The European Commission has released the first draft of the legal document that will eventually guide the United Kingdom out of the European Union and in the meantime, sets out some ground rules for the U.K.’s engagement during the transition period ending Dec. 2020, namely in the European Development Fund and some migration-related funds, such as the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey.

The draft agreement contains only a few provisions related to international development. Notably in Article 124, the document sets out quite rigid rules for the U.K. during the transition period, namely that the U.K. cannot provide leadership, or host the headquarters of any EU operations.

While the document is not legally binding, the draft begins the months-long process of revisions and negotiations that will, by May, produce the blueprint for Brexit.

When it comes to aid, perhaps fortunately for the U.K.’s Department for International Development, the document closely mirrors DIFD’s unofficial agreements with the EU so far, translating the joint report published in December into legal jargon. Still, the insights from the joint report and now the new draft bill only go up to a point: Specifically up to Dec. 2020. In short, it provides a reassuring look at how aid will function through that Brexit transition period, but not much further.

Read the full article on Brexit and aid by Molly Anders at Devex International Development