E. Brexit History & Understanding

Question 1

Why did the UK choose to leave the EU in 2016?

Answer 1

1. Internal division among the Conservative Party
2. Euroscepticism

Question 2

What issues fostered growing UK Euroscepticism?

Answer 2

Economic: UK a net contributor so there were fears that the UK’s investment could be better spent elsewhere

Sovereignty: Worry that the EU was eroding British sovereignty and ability to dictate its own future - exacerbated by the media

Xenophobia: fear of particularly middle-eastern migration from Syria and Iraq, which was inflamed by lies surrounding Turkey’s ‘imminent’ ascension to the EU

Question 3

What were the 3 stages of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU?

Answer 3

1. UK making their decision
2. Negotiations
3. Voting and ratification

Question 4

What was the rough timeline of the UK’s Brexit decision-making process

Answer 4

2015 - David Cameron signaled the referendum
2016 - Referendum occurs and 51.9% vote to leave and David Cameron resigns, leaving Theresa May to step into PM
2017 - Parliament passes legislation approving notifying EU Council President Donald Tusk of the UK’s invocation of Article 50

Question 5

Who conducts the negotiation for the EU?

Answer 5

the EU Commission

Question 6

What were the EU Council’s guidelines on the negotiations?

Answer 6

1. The indivisibility of the single market
2. Commitment to the Good Friday Agreement
3. EU must remain united
4. No partial agreement could be reached

Question 7

What’s the difference between a soft and hard Brexit?

Answer 7

Soft Brexit = UK still engages in the single market and customs union through a free trade agreement
Hard Brexit = UK leaves the single market and the customs union

Question 8

What were the key aspects of the UK Withdrawal Agreement secured under Theresa May?

Answer 8

1. Transition period until Dec 2020
2. Citizen’s rights within the EU
3. Settled UK’s financial obligations (owed the EU 40 million euros)
4. Northern Irish backstop with the border of the single market in the Irish Sea

Question 9

What were the key aspects of the New UK Withdrawal Agreement secured under Boris Johnson?

Answer 9

1. Northern Irish backstop replaced by 4-year period of alignment and commitment to no checks at the Northern Irish/EU border
2. UK committed to level economic playing field
3. 0 tariffs or quotas (customs union without the common external tariff)
4. BUT offered no commitment to align with EU regulations

Question 10

What were the key details of the 2020 Christmas Day Withdrawal Deal?

Answer 10

1. No tariffs or quotas in trade in goods provided the rules of origin are met
2. Agreement is overseen by UK-EU Partnership Council with binding enforcement and independent arbitration tribunal - no role fo the ECJ
3. UK would gain 25% access of EU’s fisheries quota in UK waters and would be transferred over a 5 year period

Question 11

What is the broad timetable for voting and ratification?

Answer 11

• Council asks the EU Parliament for consent
• Council concludes agreement with withdrawing state by super qualified majority (72% of member states)
• Ratification by remaining member states