How the Article 50 letter compares with the European Council draft guidelines

How the negotiations will be conducted

Sequencing of the negotiations

“We believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.”

The EU insists on a so-called “phased approach to negotiations”. “The European Council will…determine when sufficient progress has been achieved to allow negotiations to proceed to the next phase.”

The EU appears to be softening from its previous insistence on hard sequencing – no talks on a future relationship until we’ve settled on the ‘divorce’. The EU now envisages “preliminary and preparatory discussions” on the future relationship with the UK – if “sufficient progress” is achieved on the divorce settlement, raising the prospect that the two sets of negotiations will overlap.

Terms of withdrawal from the EU

Exit bill

“We will need to discuss how we determine a fair settlement of the UK’s rights and obligations as a departing member state”

“A single financial settlement should ensure that the Union [EU] and the United Kingdom both respect the obligations undertaken before the date of the withdrawal”…“and should cover all legal and budgetary commitments…including contingent liabilities.”

Both recognise that money is on the table, but the EU is more specific on the scope of this.

Citizens' rights

“There are, for example, many citizens of the remaining member states living in the United Kingdom, and UK citizens living elsewhere in the European Union, and we should aim to strike an early agreement about their rights”

“Agreeing reciprocal guarantees to settle the status and situations at the date of withdrawal of EU and UK citizens…will be a matter of priority for the negotiations”

Both sides have signalled their commitment to making progress on citizens’ rights early on. But real certainty can only be achieved when there is firm legal text agreements which have been translated into law.

Northern Ireland and its border

“We want to avoid a return to a hard border between our two countries, to be able to maintain the Common Travel Area between us, and to make sure that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU does not harm the Republic of Ireland.”

“the achievements, benefits and commitments of the Peace Process will remain of paramount importance”…“flexible and imaginative solutions will be required, including with the aim of avoiding a hard border”

Both the UK and EU are prioritising the UK’s relationship with Ireland, and are committed to avoiding a hard border in Ireland. The EU also signals flexibility from existing practices to achieve this.

On transitional arrangements and a ‘no deal’ scenario

Transition period

“people and businesses in both the UK and EU would benefit from implementation periods to adjust in a smooth and orderly way to new arrangements.”

“the negotiations may also seek to determine transitional arrangements which are in the interest of the Union and, as appropriate, to provide for bridges towards the foreseeable framework for the future relationship. “

“Should a time-limited prolongation of Union acquis be considered, this would require existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory and enforcement instruments and structures to apply.”

Both the UK and EU acknowledge the need for a period of adjustment, but for different reasons. Theresa May believes that the purpose of a transition phase is to smooth the process of implementing new arrangements. In contrast, the EU is open to the possibility that the deal might not be reached within the two-year deadline, necessitating interim arrangements that allow negotiations to continue.

The EU makes clear that if the UK ends up pursuing a gradual transition out of the EU, Britain will need to be prepared to make payments to the EU and to abide by its enforcement processes (i.e. the European Court of Justice (ECJ)) during that time.

Contingency plans for ‘no deal’

“If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement,…both the United Kingdom and the European Union would of course cope with the change, but it is not the outcome that either side should seek.”

The EU “will prepare itself to be able to handle the situation also if the negotiations were to fail.”

Both the EU and UK acknowledge the possibility that the negotiations could collapse and that they need to put contingency plans in place. However, they both reiterate their commitment to secure a deal on a future relationship.

On the future relationship between the UK and EU

Single Market participation

“The UK does not seek membership of the Single Market: we understand and respect…there can be no ‘cherry picking’.”

“the European Council welcomes the recognition by the British Government that the four freedoms of the Single Market are indivisible and that there can be no "cherry picking".

“Preserving the integrity of the Single Market excludes participation based on a sector-by-sector basis.”

There is a shared understanding that the UK will not have full access to the Single Market without participating in the Union. The EU also explicitly rules out any ‘carve outs’ for key sectors of the UK economy that Theresa May’s government may be considering.

Future relationship

“We want to agree a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, taking in both economic and security cooperation.”

“strong and constructive ties will remain in both sides’ interest and should encompass more than just trade.”

Both sides have signalled their commitment to having a future agreement which should include cooperation beyond trade. But amid concerns that security could be a "bargaining chip" in negotiations, the EU warns that there can be no “trade-off between international and external security and the future economic relationship”.

Free trade deal

“We also propose a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. This should be of greater scope and ambition than any such agreement before it so that it covers sectors crucial to our linked economies such as financial services and network industries.”

“the European Council stands ready to initiate work towards [an ambitious free trade] agreement, to be finalised and concluded once the United Kingdom is no longer a member state."

“It must ensure a level playing field in terms of competition and state aid, and must encompass safeguards against unfair competitive advantages through, inter alia, fiscal, social and environmental dumping.”

The UK and EU share an ambition towards pursuing a comprehensive free trade deal. But Brussels makes it clear that the free trade relationship must not provide the benefits the Single Market, and should prevent Britain pursuing a role as a low-tax, low-regulation haven on Europe’s border.

Dispute settlement

“We should therefore prioritise how we manage the evolution of our regulatory frameworks to maintain a fair and open trading environment, and how we resolve disputes.”

“The future partnership must include appropriate enforcement and dispute settlement mechanisms that do not affect the Union’s autonomy”

Both sides acknowledge that a future trade deal will require some dispute settlement mechanism that enforces trade rules. This may prove to be one of the most contentious aspects of the negotiations.