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David Davis (left) and Michel Barnier


YOU NEED TO KNOW


Transition deal: What’s been agreed?


The agreement adds 21 months to the Brexit process as the UK and EU agreed in principle on a transition to last from March 29, 2019, to December 2020. December 2020 was


accepted as the deadline to comply with the EU budget process. The UK had wanted an extension to March 2021. The EU’s Michel Barnier and


UK’s David Davis agreed on the rights of 4.5 million EU citizens in the UK and 1.2 million UK citizens in the EU after Brexit, and to give EU citizens arriving in the UK during the transition the same rights and guarantees. The transition deal should


Brexit transition deal gives some certainty until 2020


Ian Taylor ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk


EU and UK negotiators agreed “a large part” of a Brexit transition deal on Monday to give “business the timings it needs”, according to the UK’s leading business federation the CBI.


The EU’s Michel Barnier and


UK Brexit secretary David Davis announced a deal in principle on “the implementation period” of Britain’s EU exit. John Foster, CBI campaigns


director, told an English Tourism Week conference in London the agreement would “give three years of certainty for business” and “increase the odds against a no- deal Brexit”. However, he warned: “[The] progress comes with a big


caveat that they need to agree more.” Barnier and Davis also confirmed the rights of EU citizens in the UK – and UK citizens in the EU – post-Brexit and confirmed EU citizens coming to the UK during the transition phase would enjoy the same rights. MP Vicky Ford, who chairs


the Conservative backbench committee on Brexit, told an Abta Brexit Briefing on Tuesday: “A deal on transition hopefully gives certainty. The ‘Sunshine Seven’ EU states which are the UK’s main travel markets need to keep travel as easy as possible.” Abta chief executive Mark


Tanzer said: “The next six months represent the biggest political challenge since the Second World War. I’m worried by the ticking clock, [but] encouraged that signs


4 travelweekly.co.uk 22 March 2018


“The ‘Sunshine Seven’ EU states need to keep UK-EU travel as easy as possible”


of realism seem to be emerging.” Neil Baylis, partner with law


firm K&L Gates, agreed: “All EU law will apply in full up to the end of 2020, including flying rights.” But he added: “I would caution against undue optimism. Nothing is agreed other than in principle.” Aviation consultant Eddie


Redfern, a former Tui Group head of regulatory affairs, said: “It’s inconceivable there won’t be an aviation deal as it is in the UK’s and EU’s interests to continue flying.” UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the biggest


be confirmed by EU member states at a summit on Friday. Talks about an EU-UK trade deal will now begin but the Northern Ireland border issue is still to be resolved. The pound rose to a


value of $1.40 following the announcement on Monday.


concern was around workers. “90% of our EU workforce would


fail the [government’s] Tier 2 Test [for non-EU labour],” she said. “So it’s hugely important we had the commitment that EU workers coming in the transition period will have the right to remain.” However, Hotelplan UK chief financial officer Andrew Stewart said: “We send 16,000 staff a year overseas to service ski resorts. I’m very concerned about our niche sector. The environment in the EU is much more hostile.” Stuart Leven, managing director and vice-president of Royal Caribbean International, was more upbeat. He said: “We may have some challenges moving staff around, we may have some challenges on price, but people will still go on holiday from March next year.”


PICTURE: REUTERS/FRANCOIS LENOIR


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