FRENCH SENATORS SET RED LINES FOR FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS EU-UK AGREEMENT

USPA NEWS - As far as the Future EU-UK agreement is concerned, French senators (From the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces Committee) have set red lines for negotiations, on February 1st. Indeed, the negotiations for the future partnership will open in early March, with the UK having left the European Union. In a European motion for a resolution adopted the day before yesterday, the senators fix their red lines on the negotiating mandate which will be submitted on February 25 to the Council of the European Union. The main senators, of the committed are, Mr. Christian Cambon (Les Républicains - Val-de-Marne) who is chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and the Armed Forces, Mr. Jean Bizet (Les Républicains - Manche) the chairman of the European Affairs Committee, Mr Ladislas Poniatowski (Les Républicains - Eure) the rapporteur for the motion for a resolution on the negotiating mandate for a new European Union-United Kingdom partnership, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and armed forces.

The text underlines that this new partnership, however ambitious it may be, cannot be equivalent to a status of member state of the European Union. For Jean Bizet, chairman of the European Affairs Committee, "the United Kingdom cannot hope to both keep the benefit of European policies and to be exempt from all obligations: the freedom that the United Kingdom intends to regain by withdrawing of the Union necessarily has a price “. “Zero quota and zero customs tariffs, yes, but if zero dumping! ": Christian Cambon, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, insists that a commercial agreement be concluded which ensures fair competition for European companies over time. Christian Cambon adds: "The defense relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom must remain strong in the future. "---------------------------- The resolution states that a fisheries agreement is a sine qua non condition for the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement. “Let's not give in to the pressure of time. The fund must take precedence over the calendar, “added Jean Bizet. "To disjoin the negotiations on fishing would be to risk a bad agreement", he considered.--------------------------------------------------------------- The text also emphasizes governance issues and the future dispute settlement mechanism, essential for the credibility of such an agreement. It stresses that independent bodies with sufficient resources will have to ensure compliance with the commitments made. Ladislas Poniatowski, rapporteur for the motion for a resolution, called on the government to ensure the proper application of the provisions of the withdrawal agreement: "Brexit weakens the status of 4.5 million people. We must secure the situation of these citizens and recreate a climate of trust that is currently lacking. “ Finally, the senators ask that the national parliaments be closely and regularly informed of the negotiations. Mr. Christian Cambon (Les Républicains - Val-de-Marne) is chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and the Armed Forces. Mr. Jean Bizet (Les Républicains - Manche) is chairman of the European Affairs Committee. Mr Ladislas Poniatowski (Les Républicains - Eure) is rapporteur for the motion for a resolution on the negotiating mandate for a new European Union-United Kingdom partnership, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and armed forces. Source : french Senate