A shorter briefing Brexit: the financial settlement – a summary covers what the settlement is and how much it might cost.

In the financial settlement (the settlement), the UK and EU have set out how they will settle their outstanding financial obligations to each other. The obligations arise out of the UK’s participation in the EU budget and broader aspects of its EU membership.

The settlement says which financial commitments will be covered, the methodology for calculating the UK’s share and the payment schedule. The settlement is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, which is the legally binding treaty setting out the negotiated terms of the UK’s departure from the EU.

There is no definitive cost to the settlement. The final cost to the UK will depend on future events such as future exchange rates and EU budgets. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimate that the net cost to the UK may be £33 billion.

Underlying principles

The UK and EU agreed some principles for the settlement:

no EU Member State should pay more or receive less because of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU;

the UK should pay its share of the commitments taken during its membership; and

the UK should neither pay more nor earlier than if it had remained a Member State. This means that the UK will make payments based on the outturns of EU budget.

What is included in the settlement?

Broadly speaking, the settlement can be split into three components:

During the transition period , until the end of 2020, the UK will pay into the EU budget almost as if it were a Member State. The UK will also receive funding from EU programmes – such as structural funding – as if it were a Member State.

, until the end of 2020, almost as if it were a Member State. The UK will also – such as structural funding – as if it were a Member State. EU annual budgets commit to some future spending without making payments to recipients at the time. The commitments will become payments in the future. The UK will contribute towards the EU’s outstanding commitments as at 31 December 2020. Recipients in the UK will also receive funding for outstanding commitments made to them.

as at 31 December 2020. Recipients in the UK will also receive funding for outstanding commitments made to them. The UK will share the financing of some EU liabilities as at the end of 2020, and any materialising contingent liabilities, and will receive back a share of some assets. The pensions of EU staff are likely to be the most significant liabilities for the UK, while the most significant item being returned to the UK is the capital it paid into the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Not everything in the settlement fits neatly into these three components. For instance, the UK has agreed to continue to contribute to the EU’s main overseas aid programme – the European Development Fund – until the current programme ends. This programme is funded directly by Member States, rather than through the EU budget. The UK’s contribution counts towards its commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on overseas aid.

Negotiations and ratification: the timeline