The starting gun has been triggered. The 2 year period is underway. Our exit negotiations with the European Union have officially began. Throughout the next 730 days, a huge wave of issues, from farming to chemicals, shapes of bananas to cross border crime will be discussed, negotiated and, hopefully, come to a smooth, fair arrangement that is in the interest of all parties. In no particular order, here are my top priorities for the 2 year period:
1) Maintain the closest, best possible access to the single market. Given that nearly 50% of the UK's trade goes to the EU, keeping a close, easy trading relationship is vital. I am pessimistic about how simple trade with the EU will be outside the EU. It certainly wouldn't appear that the exact same benefits from being in the single market would apply, as the EU would wish to deter other countries from departing. Given that 3 million jobs depend on the EU, a clear, fair trade deal must be a high priority. 2) Guaranteeing the rights of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. To me, this seems so obvious, so fair, so right that negotiators should spend no time arguing about it. It should be the first item on the list; easy to agree with both sides able to move on quickly. Whatever you think about the scale of immigration, the overwhelming majority of EU nationals here and UK nationals in the EU went to countries legally, applying for all the correct information. It would be so wrong and so immoral to not guarantee this basic right. 3) Many Leave supporters ranted about the huge amounts of money we were handing away every week to the EU, forgetting about both the rebate and the amount of projects that the EU helps to fund. After Britain leaves the EU, the UK government must ensure that the money no longer given to the UK is funded to agriculture, science, universities, deprived regions...the list goes on. Though Phillip Hammond has reassured these payments will continue, given his track record, I wouldn't be so sure. 4) On cross border issues, such as international terrorism, climate change and the migrant crisis, we must work closely with all European countries. Close discussions, meetings and planning must be maintained when we leave. For example, on the refugee crisis, discussions should be held over how many refugees should each European country take, how refugees will be separated from economic migrants, how they will be processed and where investment will come from to help the area in need and provide homes in host countries. These are such complex, far reaching issues that cannot be left for single nations to decide the best approach. 5) An exit that suits all 4 countries in the United Kingdom. An exit will be hard for Scotland and Northern Ireland, with both parts voting to remain. Especially in Northern Ireland, a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is not advisable, given all the previous troubles. I'm unsure, however, how the border can be anything but hard if one country is in the EU and the other isn't. For Scotland, I pray they can see the positives of being in the UK over being in the EU. Because while I wish Scotland, and the rest of the UK, was in both, I think the challenges of the UK outweigh the benefits of the EU. All devolved governments must feel they have an input, and are listened to. 6) And finally, an amicable, friendly departure from the EU. A departure that says, while we are leaving the EU, the UK is certainly not leaving Europe. Though we won't attend EU summits, the link between the UK and the wonderful continent of Europe is as strong as ever. The knowledge that the UK and EU are united side by side; there for one another in times of need. I hope that, above all else, is achieved in this tricky, uncertain period to come.
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