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Document 52023IP0080

    European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2023 on the implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU (2020/2202(INI))

    OJ C, C/2023/403, 23.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/403/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

    ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/403/oj

    European flag

    Official Journal
    of the European Union

    EN

    Series C


    C/2023/403

    23.11.2023

    P9_TA(2023)0080

    Implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU

    European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2023 on the implementation report on the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU (2020/2202(INI))

    (C/2023/403)

    The European Parliament,

    having regard to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (1) (the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’), including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland thereto (the ‘Protocol’),

    having regard to the political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom (2), which accompanies the Withdrawal Agreement,

    having regard to the announced agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework;

    having regard to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 10 April 1998, signed by the Government of the UK, the Government of Ireland and the other participants in the multi-party negotiations (the ‘Good Friday Agreement’),

    having regard to its resolutions of 5 April 2017 on negotiations with the United Kingdom following its notification that it intends to withdraw from the European Union (3), of 3 October 2017 on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom (4), of 13 December 2017 on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom (5), of 14 March 2018 on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship (6), of 18 September 2019 on the state of play of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (7), of 15 January 2020 on implementing and monitoring the provisions on citizens’ rights in the Withdrawal Agreement (8), of 12 February 2020 on the proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (9), of 18 June 2020 on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (10), of 28. April 2021 on the outcome of EU-UK negotiations (11) and of 16 February 2022 on the assessment of the implementation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (12),

    having regard to its position of 29 January 2020 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (13),

    having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (14) (the ‘TCA’),

    having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

    having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on International Trade, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Petitions,

    having regard to the letter from the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection,

    having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A9-0052/2023),

    A.

    whereas the Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the EU and the UK entered into force on 1 February 2020;

    B.

    whereas the Withdrawal Agreement allowed for the orderly withdrawal of the UK from the European Union; whereas the Withdrawal Agreement established a Joint Committee, which is responsible for monitoring and promoting the implementation and application of the agreement; whereas the Withdrawal Agreement established six specialised committees covering the following areas: citizens’ rights, other separation provisions, Ireland/Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, sovereign base areas in Cyprus, and financial provisions;

    C.

    whereas the Withdrawal Agreement, notably the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, and the TCA constitute a common framework for the UK’s relationship with the EU; whereas both agreements have been agreed on and ratified by the EU and the UK and are legally binding treaties under international public law; whereas the relationship between the EU and the UK must be based on full respect for those international commitments; whereas the TCA is predicated on the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol, meaning that implementation challenges under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol are therefore inextricably linked to the TCA; whereas those implementation challenges could have far-reaching implications and serious consequences for the broader EU-UK relationship;

    D.

    whereas Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement protects the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and of UK citizens living in the EU; whereas the protection of these rights legally continues beyond the completion of the UK’s exit from the EU;

    E.

    whereas the inconsistency between status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and the rights provided for by the Withdrawal Agreement may pose a risk of legal uncertainty for EU citizens;

    F.

    whereas the UK’s Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA) was established on 31 December 2020;

    G.

    whereas continued adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights was one of the essential requirements in the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular as regards law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters; whereas the Withdrawal Agreement states that there must be ‘no diminution of rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity’ for people in Northern Ireland;

    H.

    whereas the Withdrawal Agreement provides for an orderly and fair financial settlement with the UK;

    I.

    whereas on 10 April 1998, the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed by the Government of the UK, the Government of Ireland and the other participants in the multi-party negotiations; whereas the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland avoids a ‘hard border’ on the island of Ireland, ensures the functioning of an all-island economy and safeguards all dimensions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, while protecting the integrity of the EU’s single market; whereas after years of intense negotiations with the UK, the Protocol was the only solution found; whereas it therefore provides the only framework to address the specific consequences for Northern Ireland of the UK’s decision to leave the single market and customs union;

    J.

    whereas on 13 October 2021, the Commission, in a demonstration of flexibility and pragmatism, proposed a number of far-reaching proposals to make the implementation of the Protocol more flexible;

    K.

    whereas the UK has reneged on its international obligations by unilaterally adopting and extending grace periods; whereas as a result of this unilateral action, a number of central aspects of the Protocol have been breached;

    L.

    whereas the UK recently put forward the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which aims to unilaterally cease applying various provisions of the Protocol; whereas such a proposal constitutes a clear and unacceptable breach of international commitments under the Withdrawal Agreement;

    M.

    whereas the recently announced agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework sets out the terms for a flexible but effective implementation of the Protocol; whereas the UK Government announced, in this context, the stopping and putting on hold of the proposed Northern Ireland Protocol Bill;

    N.

    whereas elected officials and stakeholders in Northern Ireland have first-hand knowledge of and experience with the practical consequences of implementing the Protocol;

    O.

    whereas it is necessary to preserve a level playing field and legal certainty for businesses and citizens;

    General considerations

    1.

    Recalls that the Withdrawal Agreement allowed for the orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU, minimising social and economic disruption and avoiding a ‘cliff edge’ scenario; recalls that its negotiation was a historic yet cumbersome and lengthy political process to which both parties dedicated considerable political, administrative and financial resources; points out this was a period of deep uncertainty for the EU-27, the UK and their respective stakeholders; regrets the fact that the Withdrawal Agreement has still not yet been fully implemented; underlines that the full and timely implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the TCA, which are based on international law, is and will always remain a key priority for the EU;

    2.

    Notes that, as expected, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU has resulted in trade and supply chain disruptions between the EU and the UK, increased uncertainties for citizens and businesses and rising costs for traders in various sectors, investors and industry stemming from transportation shortages, shipping delays, difficulties in complying with changing import rules and customs border turmoil that have resulted from the dual-regulatory systems and additional formalities; notes, therefore, that Brexit has proven to be damaging for all concerned, and even more so for the UK; notes that the regions involved in Interreg projects with the UK have been particularly affected; points out that the situation would have been much worse for citizens, businesses and public administrations in the EU and UK alike without the Withdrawal Agreement;

    3.

    Highlights that the Withdrawal Agreement provided the legal framework for safeguarding citizens’ rights; avoiding a ‘hard border’ on the island of Ireland and respecting the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, while protecting the integrity and functioning of the EU’s single market and customs union, ensuring a fair financial settlement and establishing an effective dispute settlement system and joint institutions to monitor and enforce its implementation;

    4.

    Notes that some important improvements are still to be made to safeguard citizens’ rights and that the first three years of the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement have been tarnished by the UK’s continuous breaches of its commitments, as well as further threatened breaches, under the Protocol;

    5.

    Reiterates that the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement must be respected and implemented; stresses that compliance with treaties constitutes a fundamental principle of international law and that a trusting relationship between the EU and the UK depends on all parties respecting their legally binding commitments;

    6.

    Recalls that the Withdrawal Agreement has a direct effect on the EU’s and the UK’s respective legal orders; points out that its provisions can be invoked directly in national courts by the legal subjects concerned; underlines that any contradictory national implementing measure must be disregarded and cannot be enforced;

    7.

    Highlights the need to preserve the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which is necessary to interpret the applicable EU law; recalls that UK courts must pay due regard to CJEU case-law handed down after the transition period, and highlights that the rights guaranteed by the citizens’ rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement can be directly relied on by EU citizens in UK courts and by UK nationals in the courts of the Member States; recalls further that the Withdrawal Agreement provides a role for the CJEU, by permitting UK courts to ask it, under certain conditions, for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement for eight years following the end of the transition period;

    Citizens’ rights

    8.

    Recalls that Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement provides that all EU citizens who were legally residing in the UK and all UK nationals who were legally residing in the EU-27 at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 and who continue to do so enjoy the full set of rights as established under EU law and as interpreted by the CJEU; recalls that children are also protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, provided that the conditions of Article 10(1) of the Withdrawal Agreement are fulfilled; stresses that full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement’s provisions on citizens’ rights is necessary to safeguard those rights and provide the legal certainty needed by EU and UK citizens and their families;

    9.

    Recalls, as stressed in Article 5 of the Withdrawal Agreement, that the EU and the UK should, with full mutual respect and in good faith, assist each other with tasks resulting from the Withdrawal Agreement;

    10.

    Welcomes the UK’s establishment of the EUSS to fulfil its obligations to EU citizens and their family members, but also echoes the Commission’s concerns regarding the lack of legal clarity, since eligibility conditions set by the UK for access to rights under the EUSS still differ from those provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement; recalls that the Withdrawal Agreement makes clear that the administrative procedures under a constitutive system must be ‘smooth, transparent and simple’;

    11.

    Notes that by 31 December 2022, under the EUSS, the UK received 7 040 670 applications, of which 988 440 were received after the 30 June 2021 deadline; notes that of the concluded outcomes, 50 % (3 420 270) were granted settled status, 39 % (2 707 800) were only granted pre-settled status and 11 % had other outcomes (including 442 770 refused applications, 152 990 withdrawn or voided applications and 135 840 invalid applications);

    12.

    Is deeply concerned about inconsistencies with the Withdrawal Agreement, namely that EU citizens with pre-settled status have to submit a second application to obtain settled status, which may lead to an automatic and illegal loss of their rights; recalls that the first wave of EU citizens with pre-settled status that must apply for settled status will have to start submitting their applications in the second half of 2023; expresses concern that, during their second application, eligible EU citizens will have to prove continued residence, making the settled status application procedure more onerous than the pre-settled one;

    13.

    Recalls that those persons who have not yet acquired permanent residence rights, namely those who have not lived in the host state for at least five years, are still fully protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and will be able to continue residing in the host state and to acquire permanent residence rights in the host state after accumulating five years of residence;

    14.

    Notes that the deadline for most EU citizens to apply for settled status passed on 30 June 2021; stresses that, according to the Withdrawal Agreement, EU citizens and their families who can show reasonable grounds for missing the deadlines can still apply to the EUSS; recognises that the UK Government chose to not reject any applications submitted past the official deadline; welcomes the flexibility shown by the UK Government in that regard; is, however, still concerned about the situation of late applicants, since many citizens remain in limbo about their immigration status;

    15.

    Is concerned by the very long delays in decision-making by the UK Government related to citizens’ rights; notes that, as of December 2022, 181 000 applications were waiting for a decision; is particularly concerned about the delays for family reunification cases; draws attention to the fact that delays in decision-making for family reunification cases went from an average of 95 calendar days in July 2021 to 291 calendar days in June 2022; calls on the UK Government to do its utmost to speed up its decision-making process;

    16.

    Commends the work of the IMA, whose role is to make sure that the UK authorities adequately and effectively implement the rights provided for by the citizens’ rights agreements; reiterates the importance of ensuring that the IMA can carry out its role in a genuinely independent manner;

    17.

    Welcomes the report on the IMA’s second survey of July 2022; notes, with concern, that three out of four respondents had not heard about the IMA prior to the 2022 survey; calls on the IMA to improve its communication and awareness campaign efforts;

    18.

    Welcomes and has been closely following the legal challenge brought by the IMA in December 2021 before the UK High Court of Justice on the UK Government’s position that EU citizens who fail to either apply for settled status or reapply for pre-settled status before the expiry of their pre-settled status will automatically lose their rights; notes that, in the judgment that was handed down on 21 December 2022, the UK High Court declared that the EUSS, as it is currently operating, is unlawful in these respects; supports the Commission’s participation in the court proceedings; welcomes the recent announcement from the UK’s Home Office confirming that it will not appeal the ruling and expects it to be swiftly implemented; stresses that, under Article 15(3) of the Withdrawal Agreement, once citizens acquire the right of permanent residence, it can only be lost through absence from the host state for a period exceeding five consecutive years;

    19.

    Highlights the role of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights in facilitating the application of Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement; highlights the importance of its work and of its reports on the implementation of residence rights; calls on the Member States and the UK to continue providing full and up-to-date statistical information to the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights as regard the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement; urges the Commission and the UK Government to reconvene the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights as soon as possible and to continue holding meetings on a quarterly basis until all issues raised have been fully addressed;

    20.

    Welcomes the sixth joint report on the implementation of residence rights under Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement of 26 January 2022; takes note of the regular publication of joint reports by the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights on the implementation of residence rights under the Withdrawal Agreement and of the annual reports from the committee’s secretariat to the Joint Committee; highlights their usefulness in monitoring the implementation of Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement;

    21.

    Reiterates its view that greater certainty would be provided to EU citizens in the UK if they were issued with a physical document, which should complement their existing digital status, as proof of their rights as residents; expresses its concern that the digital-only approach can have a negative and discriminatory effect on applicants from vulnerable groups and calls for help to be provided in such cases; recalls its position that a declaratory system would provide even more legal certainty for the citizens concerned, while alleviating the administrative burden on UK authorities;

    22.

    Expresses its concern about the difficulties that EU citizens and their family members may experience when attempting to return to the UK because of airlines’ lack of knowledge about the digital process for verifying settled or pre-settled status and their inability to verify this at airport gates prior to boarding; calls on the UK Government to continue working with carriers to find solutions;

    23.

    Regrets the increasing delays in issuing residence documents and entry visas for EU citizens in the UK and urges the UK authorities to develop plans to reduce the number of pending applications;

    24.

    Deplores the UK’s decision to charge different fees to visa applicants depending on their EU country of origin;

    25.

    Calls on the UK Government to continue guaranteeing the residence rights of imprisoned EU citizens with pre-settled status, as provided for by the Withdrawal Agreement;

    26.

    Is concerned about the difficulties faced by UK nationals in clarifying their status in some EU countries; calls on the Member States to show flexibility regarding the processing of late applications; calls on the Member States that opted for an Article 18(4) implementation, which does not require an application process to confirm rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, to address the UK’s concerns relating to evidencing status and to the ability of UK citizens living in the EU to access benefits and services; welcomes the Commission’s initiatives to provide guidance to the Member States in this respect; calls on the Member States with a constitutive system to consider adopting a declaratory system or parts of one;

    27.

    Highlights the importance of grassroots organisations in advocating for citizens’ rights to be respected in the UK and the EU under the Withdrawal Agreement; notes with regret that some of the organisations advocating for UK citizens’ rights in Europe have had to cease their work due to lack of funding;

    28.

    Reiterates that citizens’ rights are a top priority for Parliament and reaffirms its commitment to closely monitoring the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, so that those rights are fully protected;

    29.

    Recalls that any EU citizen residing in the UK has the right to petition the European Parliament pursuant to Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU); recalls that UK citizens residing in the EU also maintain the right to petition Parliament;

    30.

    Calls on the UK authorities to guarantee the social and employment rights of EU citizens and the freedom of movement of cross-border workers, based on non-discrimination and reciprocity;

    The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

    31.

    Recalls that the Protocol was agreed on as a compromise to safeguard all parts of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and prevent the establishment of a ‘hard border’ on the island of Ireland, while protecting the integrity of the EU single market; recalls, furthermore, that the final version of the Protocol was in fact proposed by the UK Government, leading to the abandonment of previous versions of the ‘backstop’; notes that the Protocol’s application has so far demonstrated that it is, in several important aspects, successfully serving its purpose;

    32.

    Strongly regrets the UK’s failure to act in compliance with its commitments under the Protocol for the last three years; regrets, in particular, the lack of support given to the EU staff in charge of monitoring customs checks in the Irish Sea, the EU staff’s insufficient access to UK customs data and the successive unilateral grace periods that have undermined border checks, in clear breach of the Protocol;

    33.

    Highlights that the Protocol places Northern Ireland in a unique position by granting goods produced in Northern Ireland access to both the EU’s single market and the UK’s internal market; underlines that necessary checks and controls must take place at points of entry on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK or any other third country;

    34.

    Points out that ongoing uncertainty regarding the trade arrangements for Northern Ireland is harmful and detrimental to business; observes that investment flows into Northern Ireland are declining and that the advantages available under the dual-market access provided by the Protocol are being undermined; acknowledges that businesses in Northern Ireland will be under more pressure because they will have to deal with differences between UK and EU policies;

    35.

    Stresses that any breach of the Protocol is a violation of international legal commitments and constitutes an unacceptable demonstration of disrespect for the rule of law;

    36.

    Expresses strong concern about the proposed Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which would give UK ministers far-ranging powers to unilaterally cease to apply provisions of the Protocol, which could undermine the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, contribute to economic and political uncertainty in Northern Ireland and have negative impacts on consumer protection, business and workers;

    37.

    Underlines that a bilateral agreement cannot be changed unilaterally and that doing so would undermine the relationship between the EU and the UK; reiterates its call on the UK authorities to fully respect all parts of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, as agreed in the Withdrawal Agreement, and to ensure that there is no diminution of rights for citizens in Northern Ireland;

    38.

    Welcomes the recent announcement of an agreement in principle between the EU and the UK on the Protocol — the so-called Windsor Framework –which will ensure its flexible, but effective implementation and respect for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, while safeguarding the integrity of the EU’s single market; hopes that power-sharing in Northern Ireland can be restored as soon as possible in line with the commitments under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and for the benefit of the people in Northern Ireland; expects the political agreement to be fully implemented, allowing for a new chapter in the EU-UK partnership based on mutual trust and full cooperation; welcomes, therefore, the announcement by the UK Government, in the context of the Windsor Framework, that it will be stopping the process of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, and is not proceeding with it;

    39.

    Recalls the unilateral declaration made by the UK Government, in the context of the Protocol, concerning the functioning of the ‘Democratic consent in Northern Ireland’ provision in a manner consistent with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement; underlines that, according to that unilateral declaration, ‘democratic consent’ to the Protocol must be provided in due time by a simple majority of the Northern Ireland Assembly; recalls that, in the most recent elections in Northern Ireland, a clear majority of voters voted for parties that had expressed their support for retaining the Protocol;

    40.

    Underlines that the EU has always remained open to discussions with the UK Government to find common solutions to enable the sustainable, long-term functioning of the Protocol; recalls the far-reaching proposals made by the Commission in October 2021 to find pragmatic, reasonable and flexible solutions to address implementation challenges of the Protocol; welcomes both parties’ announcement that the political will exists to engage constructively in genuine negotiations through the EU-UK Joint Committee to find sustainable solutions regarding possible areas of friction; calls on the UK Government to proactively involve the Northern Ireland Assembly and other elected officials and stakeholders in Northern Ireland in the discussions on the application of the Protocol;

    41.

    Points out that Section 75 of the UK’s Nationality and Borders Act, which requires those without a UK immigration status (including EU citizens, with the exception of Irish citizens) to have an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before entering Northern Ireland, will negatively impact EU citizens resident in Ireland; stresses, moreover, that the ETA system would not be fully in line with Article 2 of the Protocol, which protects the rights of individuals and requires the UK to ensure that there is no diminution of rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity, including by providing protection against discrimination; emphasises that any UK proposal that could ultimately require EU citizens resident in Ireland to register in order to obtain an exemption from the ETA system would be disproportionate and that its implementation would amount to a possible breach of the principle of non-discrimination as set out in the TFEU;

    42.

    Expresses its complete support for the legal initiatives launched by the Commission to ensure the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement; welcomes the adoption of the interinstitutional agreement on the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on the enforcement mechanisms of the Withdrawal Agreement and the TCA (15), which would allow the EU to take swift action in the form of measures if there is a breach of the Withdrawal Agreement and/or the TCA; calls on the Commission to keep Parliament and the Council fully informed in a timely manner of all relevant developments that may lead to the adoption of measures or actions from the Commission’s side; underlines that the enforcement toolbox under the TCA could also be used to strengthen the enforcement of the Protocol;

    Financial settlement

    43.

    Recalls that the Withdrawal Agreement provides for a single financial settlement with the UK, which includes all legal liabilities arising from outstanding commitments and makes provision for off-balance sheet items, contingent liabilities and other financial costs arising as a direct result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; underlines that this financial settlement is not a one-off lump sum, but an arrangement to clear the outstanding commitments made during the UK’s membership of the EU;

    44.

    Welcomes the fruitful cooperation in this area and the fact that the EU and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to complying with their financial obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement;

    Governance and role of the European Parliament

    45.

    Welcomes the fact that the governance structures responsible for the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement are fully operational, in particular its Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights, which meets very regularly; calls on the UK to make full use of these structures instead of pursuing unilateral action;

    46.

    Reaffirms its commitment to closely monitoring the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular in relation to citizens’ rights and the Protocol; welcomes the highly fruitful cooperation between Parliament and the Commission on these matters;

    47.

    Welcomes the active involvement of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly; believes that this assembly provides a good framework for parliamentary cooperation on common challenges, including on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; welcomes the fact that devolved territories were given an active role during the second EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in November 2022 and expects this role to be enhanced in the future;

    48.

    Welcomes the UK Contact Group established by the Committee of the Regions in February 2020, which provides a forum for continued dialogue and political partnership between EU and UK local and regional authorities; commits to adopting a similar interaction between the UK Contact Group and the European Parliament's Delegation to the UK to provide territory-based evidence about the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement;

    49.

    Recalls that Spain and the UK reached an understanding on a possible framework for an agreement on Gibraltar on 31 December 2020; recalls that, on 20 July 2021, the Commission presented a recommendation for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations with the UK on Gibraltar and for the related negotiating directives; notes that the Council adopted a decision authorising the opening of negotiations for an EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar, as well as the negotiating directives, on 5 October 2021; notes that as of October 2022, nine negotiating rounds had been completed;

    o

    o o

    50.

    Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

    (1)   OJ L 29, 31.1.2020, p. 7.

    (2)   OJ C 34, 31.1.2020, p. 1.

    (3)   OJ C 298, 23.8.2018, p. 24.

    (4)   OJ C 346, 27.9.2018, p. 2.

    (5)   OJ C 369, 11.10.2018, p. 32.

    (6)   OJ C 162, 10.5.2019, p. 40.

    (7)   OJ C 171, 6.5.2021, p. 2.

    (8)   OJ C 270, 7.7.2021, p. 21.

    (9)   OJ C 294, 23.7.2021, p. 18.

    (10)   OJ C 362, 8.9.2021, p. 90.

    (11)   OJ C 506, 15.12.2021, p. 26.

    (12)   OJ C 342, 6.9.2022, p. 78.

    (13)   OJ C 331, 17.8.2021, p. 38.

    (14)   OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10.

    (15)  Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the exercise of the Union's rights in the implementation and enforcement of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (COM(2022)0089).


    ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/403/oj

    ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)


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