Euro parliament preparing offer for UK ‘privileged’ single-market access – if we sign up to their rules
A 60 page document reveals plans that senior Members are making their own plans outside of the European Commission negotiations
European Parliament chiefs are preparing to offer Britain “privileged” access to the single market – but only if we sign up to EU rules.
In the first sign of a break with the approach of European Commission negotiators, sources revealed senior MEPs are thrashing out their own proposals for a future deal.
A 60 page document reveals a plan to allow Britain to retain “privileged” access to the single market.
As part of a broad association agreement that would also commit Britain to respecting the European Court of Justice in certain areas, and agreeing to regulatory alignment in others.
The Pound rose 0.5 per cent against the Euro as the plans emerged.
The deal would mirror one the EU struck with Ukraine in 2014, which gave the former Soviet state high levels of access to the single market as a non-EU member, notably in financial service.
Sources told Business Insider the plans were the brainchild of Guy Verhofstadt- the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator.
The Commission’s negotiator, Michel Barnier, has talked about country specific models such as repeating a form of the EU’s trade deal with Canada.
One source said: “All the way through the EU is impressively joined up, on message and consistent.
But between them (Barnier and Verhofstadt) is a chink of difference.”