Brexit, la guida completa
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Brexit, la guida completa

Fissate dalla Ue le linee guida delle trattative con il Regno Unito: disciplinano le garanzie per i cittadini, il problema delle frontiere e il regolamento dei conti

Il 29 marzo 2017 è cominciato ufficialmente il cammino della Brexit, l'uscita della Gran Bretagna dall'Unione Europea. Il 5 aprile 2017 la prima vera mossa della UE: il Parlamento europeo a Strasburgo ha approvato con 516 voti a favore, 50 astenuti e 133 contrari la risoluzione che fissa i paletti del negoziato per la Brexit.

La mozione comune è stata appoggiata dai gruppi del Ppe, S&D, Alde, Verdi e Sinistra unitaria. Tra le priorità del negoziato i diritti dei cittadini europei, la tutela dell'accordo di pace in Nord Irlanda, il rispetto degli impegni finanziari presi dalla Gran Bretagna nei confronti dell'Ue. Il presidente della Commissione europea Jean-Claude Juncker, di fronte alla plenaria del Parlamento europeo, ha garantito negoziati animati da spirito di amicizia e apertura, non di ostilità.

Gli ha fatto eco il capo-negoziatore sulla Brexit per la Commissione europea Michel Barnier: "Non cercheremo di punire il Regno Unito" ma "gli chiederemo di pagare quello per cui si è impegnato come Stato membro". Chiedendo anche "principi molto chiari per i cittadini europei: continuità e reciprocità dei diritti dovranno essere garantite senza discriminazione".

La Scozia

Nel frattempo però la Scozia proprio non digerisce Brexit. Il Parlamento di Edimburgo ha approvato il 28 marzo la proposta fatta dalla premier scozzese Nicola Sturgeon di organizzare un nuovo referendum per uscire dal Regno Unito. May non sembra in questo caso disposta a compromessi almeno secondo quanto si dice a Londra. Alcuni osservatori sostengono che May accetterà di dare il via libera al referendum di Scozia solo nel 2019, quando - secondo le previsioni del trattato di Lisbona - dovrebbero essere finiti i negoziati di Brexit.

Le leggi da annullare

Il governo inglese ha avviato anche il cosiddettoGreat Repeal Bill, in sostanza una legge che annullerà la validità delle norme europee nel Regno Unito attraverso un procedimento di inclusione prima e quindi di abrogazione (o di britanizzazione se si decide di mantenerle valide per proprio conto).

Perché la Gran Bretagna abbandona l'Unione Europea?

La procedura di uscita dall'Unione Europea che prende il via il 29 marzo è il frutto del referendum sulla Brexit che si è svolto il 23 giungo del 2016. Lo schieramento favorevole all'uscita (il cosiddetto “Leave”) ha vinto il referendum con il 51,9% dei voti, mentre gli oppositori all’uscita (il cosiddetto Stay) ha ottenuto il 48,1%:

  • In Inghilterra ha vinto il Leave: 53,4%
  • In Galles ha vinto il Leave: 52,5%
  • In scozia invece ha vinto Stay: 62%
  • In Irlanda del Nord ha vinto Stay: 55,8%
  • A Londra ha vinto Stay: 59,9%

Il testo della lettera della Brexit

Il testo della lettera ufficiale del governo britannico all'Unione Europea per avviare il procedimento di uscita dalla Ue come previsto dall'articolo 50 del Trattato di Lisbona.

Dear President Tusk

On 23 June last year, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. As I have said before, that decision was no rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans. Nor was it an attempt to do harm to the European Union or any of the remaining member states. On the contrary, the United Kingdom wants the European Union to succeed and prosper. Instead, the referendum was a vote to restore, as we see it, our national self-determination. We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe - and we want to remain committed partners and allies to our friends across the continent.

Earlier this month, the United Kingdom Parliament confirmed the result of the referendum by voting with clear and convincing majorities in both of its Houses for the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The Bill was passed by Parliament on 13 March and it received Royal Assent from Her Majesty The Queen and became an Act of Parliament on 16 March.

Today, therefore, I am writing to give effect to the democratic decision of the people of the United Kingdom. I hereby notify the European Council in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the European Union. In addition, in accordance with the same Article 50(2) as applied by Article 106a of the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, I hereby notify the European Council of the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the European Atomic Energy Community. References in this letter to the European Union should therefore be taken to include a reference to the European Atomic Energy Community.

This letter sets out the approach of Her Majesty's Government to the discussions we will have about the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union and about the deep and special partnership we hope to enjoy - as your closest friend and neighbour - with the European Union once we leave. We believe that these objectives are in the interests not only of the United Kingdom but of the European Union and the wider world too.

It is in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that we should use the forthcoming process to deliver these objectives in a fair and orderly manner, and with as little disruption as possible on each side. We want to make sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and is capable of projecting its values, leading in the world, and defending itself from security threats. We want the United Kingdom, through a new deep and special partnership with a strong European Union, to play its full part in achieving these goals. We therefore believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the European Union.

The Government wants to approach our discussions with ambition, giving citizens and businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Union - and indeed from third countries around the world - as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.

I would like to propose some principles that may help to shape our coming discussions, but before I do so, I should update you on the process we will be undertaking at home, in the United Kingdom.

The process in the United Kingdom

As I have announced already, the Government will bring forward legislation that will repeal the Act of Parliament - the European Communities Act 1972 - that gives effect to EU law in our country. This legislation will, wherever practical and appropriate, in effect convert the body of existing European Union law (the "acquis") into UK law. This means there will be certainty for UK citizens and for anybody from the European Union who does business in the United Kingdom. The Government will consult on how we design and implement this legislation, and we will publish a White Paper tomorrow. We also intend to bring forward several other pieces of legislation that address specific issues relating to our departure from the European Union, also with a view to ensuring continuity and certainty, in particular for businesses. We will of course continue to fulfil our responsibilities as a member state while we remain a member of the European Union, and the legislation we propose will not come into effect until we leave.

From the start and throughout the discussions, we will negotiate as one United Kingdom, taking due account of the specific interests of every nation and region of the UK as we do so. When it comes to the return of powers back to the United Kingdom, we will consult fully on which powers should reside in Westminster and which should be devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But it is the expectation of the Government that the outcome of this process will be a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration.

Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union

The United Kingdom wants to agree with the European Union a deep and special partnership that takes in both economic and security cooperation. To achieve this, we believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.

If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement the default position is that we would have to trade on World Trade Organisation terms. In security terms a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened. In this kind of scenario, 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. We must therefore work hard to avoid that outcome.

It is for these reasons that we want to be able to agree a deep and special partnership, taking in both economic and security cooperation, but it is also because we want to play our part in making sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and able to lead in the world, projecting its values and defending itself from security threats. And we want the United Kingdom to play its full part in realising that vision for our continent.

Proposed principles for our discussions

Looking ahead to the discussions which we will soon begin, I would like to suggest some principles that we might agree to help make sure that the process is as smooth and successful as possible.

i. We should engage with one another constructively and respectfully, in a spirit of sincere cooperation. Since I became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom I have listened carefully to you, to my fellow EU Heads of Government and the Presidents of the European Commission and Parliament. That is why the United Kingdom does not seek membership of the single market: we understand and respect your position that the four freedoms of the single market are indivisible and there can be no "cherry picking". We also understand that there will be consequences for the UK of leaving the EU: we know that we will lose influence over the rules that affect the European economy. We also know that UK companies will, as they trade within the EU, have to align with rules agreed by institutions of which we are no longer a part - just as UK companies do in other overseas markets.

ii. We should always put our citizens first. There is obvious complexity in the discussions we are about to undertake, but we should remember that at the heart of our talks are the interests of all our citizens. 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.

iii. We should work towards securing a comprehensive agreement. We want to agree a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, taking in both economic and security cooperation. We will need to discuss how we determine a fair settlement of the UK's rights and obligations as a departing member state, in accordance with the law and in the spirit of the United Kingdom's continuing partnership with the EU. But we believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.

iv. We should work together to minimise disruption and give as much certainty as possible. Investors, businesses and citizens in both the UK and across the remaining 27 member states - and those from third countries around the world - want to be able to plan. In order to avoid any cliff-edge as we move from our current relationship to our future partnership, people and businesses in both the UK and the EU would benefit from implementation periods to adjust in a smooth and orderly way to new arrangements. It would help both sides to minimise unnecessary disruption if we agree this principle early in the process.

v. In particular, we must pay attention to the UK's unique relationship with the Republic of Ireland and the importance of the peace process in Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is the only EU member state with a land border with the United Kingdom. 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. We also have an important responsibility to make sure that nothing is done to jeopardise the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to continue to uphold the Belfast Agreement.

vi. We should begin technical talks on detailed policy areas as soon as possible, but we should prioritise the biggest challenges. Agreeing a high-level approach to the issues arising from our withdrawal will of course be an early priority. But 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. This will require detailed technical talks, but as the UK is an existing EU member state, both sides have regulatory frameworks and standards that already match. 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. On the scope of the partnership between us - on both economic and security matters - my officials will put forward detailed proposals for deep, broad and dynamic cooperation.

vii. We should continue to work together to advance and protect our shared European values. Perhaps now more than ever, the world needs the liberal, democratic values of Europe. We want to play our part to ensure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and able to lead in the world, projecting its values and defending itself from security threats.

The task before us

As I have said, the Government of the United Kingdom wants to agree a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU, taking in both economic and security cooperation. At a time when the growth of global trade is slowing and there are signs that protectionist instincts are on the rise in many parts of the world, Europe has a responsibility to stand up for free trade in the interest of all our citizens. Likewise, Europe's security is more fragile today than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Weakening our cooperation for the prosperity and protection of our citizens would be a costly mistake. The United Kingdom's objectives for our future partnership remain those set out in my Lancaster House speech of 17 January and the subsequent White Paper published on 2 February.

We recognise that it will be a challenge to reach such a comprehensive agreement within the two-year period set out for withdrawal discussions in the Treaty. But we believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU. We start from a unique position in these discussions - close regulatory alignment, trust in one another's institutions, and a spirit of cooperation stretching back decades. It is for these reasons, and because the future partnership between the UK and the EU is of such importance to both sides, that I am sure it can be agreed in the time period set out by the Treaty.

The task before us is momentous but it should not be beyond us. After all, the institutions and the leaders of the European Union have succeeded in bringing together a continent blighted by war into a union of peaceful nations, and supported the transition of dictatorships to democracy. Together, I know we are capable of reaching an agreement about the UK's rights and obligations as a departing member state, while establishing a deep and special partnership that contributes towards the prosperity, security and global power of our continent.

Yours sincerely

Theresa May

(Articolo in aggiornamento)

Per saperne di più

Il Parlamento europeo riunito - Foto

Nigel Farage e Jean-Claude Juncker
Ansa/EPA/PATRICK SEEGER
Stretta di mano tra Nigel Farage (a sinistra), membro britannico del Parlamento Europeo e fondatore dell'Ukip, e Jean-Claude Juncker, presidente della Commissione Europea.

L'avvio della Brexit

L'ambasciatore britannico presso la Ue, Tim Barrow, ha consegnato il 29 marzo alle 12:30 (GMT) al presidente del Consiglio europeo, Donald Tusk, la lettera con cui il Regno Unito ufficializza la sua intenzione di uscire dall'Unione. È il procedimento previsto dall'articolo 50 del Trattato di Lisbona, che regola le modalità di uscita e che stabilisce che il paese che abbandona l'Unione e le autorità dell'Unione stessa abbiano due anni per negoziare i termini della separazione.

Le trattative

Passato il B-day, è cominciato il lavoro per il negoziato più difficile nei 60 anni di storia dell'Unione europea. Un mese il tempo che la Ue si è data per mettere a punto i "paletti" politici che saranno validati dal vertice straordinario a 27 dei leader che si terrà il 29 aprile a Bruxelles, dopo un mese di consultazioni tra le capitali e un consiglio affari generali straordinario il 27 aprile.

Il mercoledì successivo, il 3 maggio, il Collegio dei Commissari varerà invece le "Raccomandazioni" per la definizione del mandato negoziale per Michel Barnier, l'ex vicepresidente della Commissione nominato capo della task force che condurrà fisicamente il negoziato tra Londra e Bruxelles.

Questo testo, che fonti europee anticipano essere "molto piu' lungo, articolato e tecnico", dovrà poi essere validato da un altro Consiglio affari generali, la riunione dei ministri per gli affari europei entro la fine di maggio.

L'idea è che il vero negoziato cominci concretamente tra gli ultimi giorni di maggio ed i primi di giugno, con Barnier che dovrà muoversi nei limiti fissati dal documento "politico" del summit e da quello "tecnico" preparato dalla Commissione.

Il primo passo è stato compiuto il 31 marzo, quando le "linee guida" preparate dai servizi di Tusk sono arrivate sul tavolo delCorepera 27, la formazione del Consiglio in cui siedono gli ambasciatori rappresentanti permanenti, ed inviate alle capitali. Sono le linee guida approvate il 5 aprile 2017 dal Parlamento europeo.

Tre le questioni prioritarie: le garanzie per i cittadini, il problema delle frontiere (delicatissimo quello in Irlanda del Nord, ma anche a Gibilterra e a Cipro, dove il Regno Unito ha due basi militari con sovranità territoriale) ed il regolamento dei conti miliardari in sospeso di Londra col bilancio Ue.

Le "linee guida" indicano, inoltre, l'indivisibilità delle quattro libertà fondamentali (ovvero l'impossibilità per la Gran Bretagna di mantenere la libera circolazione di capitali, beni e servizi rifiutando quella dei lavoratori) e la sequenza con cui saranno affrontati i temi sul tavolo.

A Bruxelles ci si attende (ed augura) che "in un paio di mesi" si arrivi all'accordo di principio sulla questione più spinosa: la reciproca garanzia dei diritti per i cittadini europei nel Regno Unito (3,3 milioni) e di quelli britannici nella Ue (1,2 mln).

"Il problema è nei dettagli": ad esempio quello delle pensioni di chi oggi lavora nella Ue e in Gran Bretagna, che potrebbero avere riflessi nell'arco di 30 anni.

Risolto questo nodo, la Commissione potrebbe raccomandare di aprire il capitolo del rapporto futuro, caro a Londra. "Ma aspettatevi molti vertici straordinari", avvertono nei palazzi delle istituzioni Ue.

Parlamento Europeo: i punti fermi del negoziato sulla Brexit

Chi negozierà per il Regno Unito

Barrow è stato direttore politico del ministero degli Esteri prima di essere nominato rappresentante permanente del Regno Unito a Bruxelles, ha sostituito lo scorso gennaio Ivan Rogers, dimessosi per apparenti dissapori con il governo di May.

Gli altri uomini decisivi per la Gran Bretagna nel negoziato saranno:

  • David Davis, che guida l'apposito dipartimento costituito da May nel governo per pilotare la Brexit;
  • Liam Fox, ex segretario alla difesa, attualmente segretario al commercio internazionale;
  • Boris Johnson, ex sindaco di Londra, leader della campagna referendaria per Brexit e attualmente ministro degli esteri.

Brexit lettera Ue
EPA/YVES HERMAN / POOL
L'ambasciatore britannico presso la EU, Tim Barrow (sx) consegna la lettera di notifica ufficiale di uscita dall'Unione, prevista all'articolo 50 del Trattato di Lisbona, al Presidente del Consiglio europeo, Donald Tusk, Buxelles, 29 marzo 2017

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Luigi Gavazzi