17:12

Italy’s Europe minister Sandro Gozi has cast doubt on British hopes to vet EU legislation during the transition period.

The most controversial part of the Brexit transition paper adopted in Brussels today are the “vassal state” clauses, which require the UK to obey EU rules without any role in the decision-making processes.

From 30 March 2019, the UK will no longer have ministers, diplomats or MEPs at the table when EU laws are agreed, or a commissioner involved in drafting them. The UK “could be invited” to attend some meetings without voting rights - but only at the EU’s discretion (paragraphs 18-19 of the EU’s negotiating directives). The UK will have to follow all EU laws, including judgements of the European court of justice.

The Brexit secretary David Davis said on Friday that the UK “will agree an appropriate process” for the UK to resolve concerns “if laws are deemed to run contrary to our interests”.

Gozi said today that this idea would be “very difficult” to achieve. He said:

I think it is difficult, because once you leave you leave ... The British people decided not to decide anymore and that it is it. We will see in the negotiation [whether this changes] but it is not us who decided the British should not decide anymore. It is the Brits who decided through their decision-making process.

Speaking to the Guardian and other European newspapers, he welcomed the EU’s decision not to lose time by negotiating unique arrangements for the transition. He said:

We cannot waste our energy on shaping a bespoke transition. We have to concentrate our energy on the future relationship.

He also made clear it was up to the UK to set out first its plan for the future relationship with the EU. He said:



It is clear that the first move has to come from the British side, because the British decided to get out, so it is up to the British to decide how they want to get out and see their future relationship with the EU. The sooner they do so, the better. The time at our disposal is sufficient, but it is not very long. Each of us have an idea how we would like to see the future relationship with the Brits,” he said. “Until we have a clear idea on what is the British position, there can only be a discussion on general lines, but there cannot be a detailed discussion and the future relationship requires detail.

EU leaders are due to adopt a formal position on the EU’s future relationship with the UK in March, but officials have said that document could be limited if they have nothing to respond to from the British government.

