8 December 2017 saw the release of a joint report by EU Brexit negotiators and the UK Government (the Joint Report) confirming that sufficient progress has been made on the three key issues of Phase 1 of the Article 50 negotiation: (i) EU/UK citizens’ rights; (ii) the Ireland / Northern Ireland border; and (iii) the financial settlement to permit the commencement of Phase 2 of the negotiation -  the future UK/EU relationship and transitional measures. The Joint Report will be put to the European Council meeting on 14 and 15 December 2017 for Member States to endorse it.

At this stage “nothing is agreed, until everything is agreed”, thus the Joint Report explicitly references possible adaptations that may become necessary in light of transitional arrangements agreed during the Phase 2 negotiations. The UK’s agreement to the Joint Report is on the condition that an overall agreement under Article 50 is reached which accounts for the future UK/EU relationship and that an agreement is obtained as early as possible in 2018 on transitional measures.

If members have any questions or comments on the Joint Report, please contact Oliver Robinson.