Prime Minister
said tonight at a Press Conference:
Last November, after two years of hard-fought negotiations, I
agreed a Brexit deal with the EU that I passionately believe
delivers on the decision taken by the British people to leave the
European Union.
Over the last four months, I have made the case for that deal in
Westminster and across the UK.
I stand by what that deal achieves for my country.
It means we regain control of our laws, by ending the
jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK.
Regain control of our borders, by ending free movement.
Regain control of our money, by ending vast annual payments to
the EU.
The end of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common
Fisheries Policy for British farmers and fishermen.
An independent trade policy.
And the deal sets us on course for a good future relationship
with our friends and allies in the EU.
A close economic partnership that is good for business.
Ongoing security co-operation to keep our peoples safe.
The deal honours the referendum result and is good for both the
UK and the EU.
But there was a clear concern in Parliament over one issue in
particular: the Northern Ireland backstop.
Having an insurance policy to guarantee that there will never be
a hard border in Northern Ireland is absolutely right – it
honours the UK’s solemn commitments in the Belfast/Good Friday
Agreement.
But if we ever have to use that insurance policy, it cannot
become a permanent arrangement and it is not the template for our
future relationship.
The deal that MPs voted on in January was not strong enough in
making that clear – and legally binding changes were needed to
set that right.
Today we have agreed them.
First, a joint instrument with comparable legal weight to the
Withdrawal Agreement will guarantee that the EU cannot act with
the intent of applying the backstop indefinitely.
If they do, it can be challenged through arbitration and if they
are found to be in breach the UK can suspend the backstop.
The joint instrument also gives a legal commitment that whatever
replaces the backstop does not need to replicate it.
And it entrenches in legally-binding form the commitments made in
the exchange of letters with Presidents Tusk and Juncker in
January.
Second, the UK and the EU have made a joint statement in relation
to the Political Declaration.
It sets out a number of commitments to enhance and expedite the
process of negotiating and bringing into force the future
relationship.
And it makes a legal commitment that the UK and the EU will begin
work immediately to replace the backstop with alternative
arrangements by the end of December 2020.
There will be a specific negotiating track on alternative
arrangements from the very start of the next phase of
negotiations.
It will consider facilitations and technologies – both those
currently ready and emerging.
The UK’s position will be informed by the three domestic groups
announced last week – for technical experts, MPs, and business
and trade unions.
Third, alongside the joint instrument on the Withdrawal
Agreement, the United Kingdom Government will make a Unilateral
Declaration that if the backstop comes into use and discussions
on our future relationship break down so that there is no
prospect of subsequent agreement, it is the position of the
United Kingdom that there would be nothing to prevent the UK
instigating measures that would ultimately dis-apply the
backstop.
Unilateral Declarations are commonly used by states alongside the
ratification of treaties.
The Attorney General will set out in legal analysis the meaning
of the joint instrument and unilateral declaration to
Parliament.
Tomorrow the House of Commons will debate the improved deal that
these legal changes have created.
I will speak in more detail about them when I open that debate.
MPs were clear that legal changes were needed to the backstop.
Today we have secured legal changes.
Now is the time to come together, to back this improved Brexit
deal, and to deliver on the instruction of the British people.
