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The UK's tough exit from the European Union crossed a crucial threshold on Thursday when negotiators from London and Brussels agreed on a text describing future relations, a document full of ambitious but cleverly ambiguous promises on crucial questions that have divided British politics.
The draft 26-page document is non-binding and would complement a legal waiver agreement that lists the terms of the "divorce" between Britain and the European Union, which is due to be released on March 29.
Nevertheless, his conclusion paves the way for a summit of bloc leaders, who should approve on Sunday the global plan for the withdrawal, known as Brexit, in Brussels.
"The British want this fixed," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in front of her office in Downing Street. "They want a good deal that directs us to a better future."
"This agreement is within our reach and I am determined to achieve it," she added.
Ms. May still faces the daunting task of selling her Brexit plan to UK lawmakers and hopes to achieve this by using the latest text, which promises many things to many people, as part of what he calls a "Ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership. "
While promising future "close and close" trade relations – but not without friction – he suggested a window of opportunity for Britain to choose a different economic path, reflecting the fundamental decision that British policymakers have made up to date. To date.
Despite some last – minute objections to Spain 's draft Brexit plan for the Gibraltar provisions, analysts are expecting the agreement to be signed by the leaders of Spain on Sunday. ;European Union. Assuming this is the case, Ms. May faces a daunting challenge in the UK Parliament, where many lawmakers have already voiced their opposition to her plan for Brexit.
Many of them are worried about the legally binding withdrawal agreement, which provides for measures to avoid the need to control goods crossing the border between Northern Ireland, which makes part of the United Kingdom, and Ireland, which will remain in the European Union.
According to these plans, the whole of the United Kingdom could remain temporarily in a European customs union, but critics fear that this may become a permanent arrangement preventing the country from concluding new trade agreements in the world.
The document agreed on Thursday foresaw that technology could solve this thorny issue – an apparent sop for the Brexit-friendly extremist faction. He also referred to British plans to establish an independent commercial policy and to "put an end to the free movement of people", allowing the London government to prevent citizens of the countries of the European Union. to work in Britain.
And he suggested that the British could conclude an "association agreement" with the bloc, a deeper agreement and covering more areas than a free trade agreement. This is generally the kind of relationship enjoyed by countries wishing to join the European Union rather than leaving it.
Still, the declaration is actually a wish list for future negotiations – a list that conceals the central question of whether Britain would remain deeply entangled in the bloc's economic structures and thus accept its rules, or chart a different path .
Although the draft political statement was intended to reassure some opponents, its critics immediately rejected it. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labor Party, termed it "half cooked", "vague menu of options" and "26 waffle pages". Nicola Sturgeon, the head of the Scottish National Party, wrote on Twitter that it was so vague that it "adds blindfold to Brexit".
Mark François, a senior Conservative legislator for Brexit, told the BBC that the document was better described as a "leaf of vine" and "26 pages of political camouflage".
"All the US negotiations have resulted in the withdrawal agreement, which is a legally binding international treaty," said Priti Patel, another Brexit supporter and conservative lawmaker. "All that the United Kingdom wanted was contained in an unenforceable and meaningless declaration."
Far away from the political scene, Simon Fraser, a former senior British Foreign Office official and managing partner of Flint Global, a consulting firm, said the document reflected the "good work" done by British officials and that he was placing the debate further. new step.
But, he added, this "also confirms that we would leave with many unanswered questions and a long road ahead of us".
