Brexit: Britain asks EU to consider longer transition period - Independent

21/2/2018

Brexit: Britain asks EU to consider longer transition period

Jon Stone Brussels @joncstone

The British government has asked the EU to consider granting the UK a longer Brexit transition period than the one proposed by Brussels.

The European Commission has said the transition, during which the UK would be bound by EU rules despite being outside the bloc, should end on 31 December 2020, but UK negotiators said on Wednesday that they want to discuss the possibility of a longer duration.

“The UK believes the Period’s duration should be determined simply by how long it will take to prepare and implement the new processes and new systems that will underpin the future partnership,” negotiators said in an explanatory note leaked ahead of its publication.

UK considers asking Brussels for a longer Brexit transition period

“The UK agrees this points to a period of around two years, but wishes to discuss with the EU the assessment that supports its proposed end date.”

The development confirms reports by The Independent last month that the UK was considering asking for a longer period because it was not sure that the duration proposed by Brussels would give it enough time to prepare.