Brexit: the withdrawal agreement draft – Euronews takes a look at the details

Theresa May secured cabinet approval of her draft Brexit deal but admits bigger challenges remain in the days ahead. Consequently, the agreement setting out the arrangements for the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union has now been published. Click here for full document. It's an unforgiving text to decipher, and at nearly 600 pages, a tough tome to precis. But we will offer you our initial observations. You can watch a Brexit timeline in the player above while we work - so you can remember how this all came about. Scroll much further down for reactions on social media. Let's kick off with Ireland. The Protocol includes all the provisions on how the so-called “backstop” solution for avoiding a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland would work. This forms part of the overall Withdrawal Agreement and will apply unless and until it is superseded, in whole or in part, by any subsequent agreement. Both the EU and the UK will use their best endeavours to conclude and ratify a subsequent agreement by 1 July 2020. All this doesn't appear to be anything new, rather it sets out that a decision should be reached by the summer of 2020. However, article 6 gives us pause for thought. It doesn't specify precisely which customs territory Northern Ireland will be in. UK or EU? ARTICLE 6 Single customs territory, movement of goods 1. Until the future relationship becomes applicable, a single customs territory between the Union and the United Kingdom shall be established ("the single customs territory"). Accordingly, Northern Ireland is in the same customs territory as Great Britain. The single customs territory shall comprise: (a) the customs territory of the Union defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013; and (b) the customs territory of the United Kingdom. What is meant by the 'Single Customs Territory'? The EU and the UK have today agreed that a single EU-UK customs territory will apply from the end of the transition period until such a time as a subsequent agreement becomes applicable. Therefore: the UK will align the tariffs and rules applicable to its customs territory to the Union's external tariffs and rules of origin; there will therefore be no tariffs, quotas and checks on rules of origin between the EU and the UK, with the exception of fishery and aquaculture products; both the EU and the UK have agreed on a series of measures ensuring a level playing field; the UK will harmonise its commercial policy with the EU's common commercial policy to the extent necessary for the functioning of the single customs territory. Under no circumstances can the UK apply a lower customs tariff to its customs territory than the EU Common Customs Tariff for any good imported from any third country or apply different rules of origin. 'No entry or exit visas required' This will be of concern to many and at first glance looks hopeful for those Europeans in the UK and vice versa. The valid document clause relating to Article 18 suggests that remaining in your current host state will not be overly problematic other than having to, occasionally, comply with identification regulations which are subject to change in terms of their format. Article 26 says the same thing but applies it to frontier workers . ARTICLE 14 - Right of exit and of entry 1. Union citizens and United Kingdom nationals, their respective family members, and other persons, who reside in the territory of the host State in accordance with the conditions set out in this Title shall have the right to leave the host State and the right to enter it, as set out in Article 4(1) and the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Directive 2004/38/EC, with a valid passport or national identity card in the case of Union citizens and United Kingdom nationals, and with a valid passport in the case of their respective family members and other persons who are not Union citizens or United Kingdom nationals. Five years after the end of the transition period, the host State may decide no longer to accept national identity cards for the purposes of entry to or exit from its territory if such cards do not include a chip that complies with the applicable International Civil Aviation Organisation standards related to biometric identification. 2. No exit visa, entry visa or equivalent formality shall be required of holders of a valid document issued in accordance with Article 18 or 26. Law and governance According to Article 174, legal disputes are to be managed by a joint committee, headed by a five-member arbitration panel. However, if the dispute relates specifically to EU law, to protocol will be to take the matter to the European Court of Justice. The Court of Justice of the European Union shall have jurisdiction to give such a ruling which shall be binding on the arbitration panel. Reassuringly Vague The 'transition period' has been heavily mentioned over the last few weeks. And here is the article on the idea of its potential extension. Which doesn't tell us much other than it will be no longer than 80 years! ARTICLE 132 Extension of the transition period 1. Notwithstanding Article 126, the Joint Committee may, before 1 July 2020, adopt a single decision extending the transition period up to [31 December 20XX]. Trade Defence Practices It looks like the protocols that the EU currently have in place to protect against unsavoury trade practices will have to be implemented by the entire UK. This paragraph is from Article 4 - Commercial Policy The Union's trade defence regime, as well as the Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences ("GSP"), shall cover both parts of the single customs territory. The Union shall consult the United Kingdom on any trade defence measures or actions under the GSP regime which it considers taking. At least 6 months before the end of the transition period, the Joint Committee shall set up the procedures for the application of this paragraph. You may read the latest Anti-Dumping, Anti-Subsidy safeguard report here . Environment policy Article 2 freezes things as they stand. The UK government is committed to maintaining environmental standards after it leaves the EU – and will continue to uphold international obligations through multi-lateral environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement. Under Article 2, it also says the UK will introduce a carbon pricing scheme. ARTICLE 2 Non-regression in the level of environmental protection 1. With the aim of ensuring the proper functioning of the single customs territory, the Union and the United Kingdom shall ensure that the level of environmental protection provided by law, regulations and practices is not reduced below the level provided by the common standards applicable within the Union and the United Kingdom at the end of the transition period in relation to: access to environmental information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters; environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment; industrial emissions; air emissions and air quality targets and ceilings; nature and biodiversity conservation; waste management; the protection and preservation of the aquatic environment; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the prevention, reduction and elimination of risks to human health or the environment arising from the production, use, release and disposal of chemical substances; and climate change. 5. The United Kingdom shall implement a system of carbon pricing of at least the same effectiveness and scope as that provided by Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community. The shipping forecast The mooted EU-UK single customs territory covers all goods aside from fishery and aquaculture products. The Joint Committee shall adopt before 1 July 2020 the detailed rules relating to trade in goods between the two parts of the single customs territory for the implementation of this paragraph. In the absence of such a decision adopted before 1 July 2020, Annex 3 shall apply. By derogation from the third subparagraph, fishery and aquaculture products, as set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 1379/2013 ("fishery and aquaculture products"), shall not be covered by the rules set out in Annexes 2 and 4, as well as the rules referred to in the fourth subparagraph, unless an agreement on access to waters and fishing opportunities is applicable between the Union and the United Kingdom. What's the bigger picture? EC President Jean-Claude Juncker sent out a tweet on Wednesday evening that many have interpreted as fairly gleeful, which further suggests that if you were seeing this as a battle between to sides - and who isn't? - the EU have the upper hand in the process. A few minutes later, Theresa May addressed the press.