Speeches made about the future relationship between Britain and the European Union need to be translated into treaties and agreements as soon as possible, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (March 13).
Speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker said that with just a little over a year to March 29, 2019 when Britain leaves the EU, there was an urgency to organise an orderly withdrawal.
Britain has said it will adhere to EU regulations for a time-limited period after it leaves the European Union in March 2019, and hopes the details of this transition, or implementation period, will be finalised at a summit with the EU on March 22-24.
Several issues remain to be solved, including finding a solution for the future of the Irish border.
Britain’s government has said it does not want a customs union with the EU, without which the EU says it would need to regulate Northern Ireland’s trade to avoid a return of customs checks.
During his speech, Juncker said the issue of Ireland was a European one, but was interrupted by members of the parliament saying this was only a British issue.
