The looming summer appears to have provoked a small flurry of activity in Article 50, notably with the publication of the UK’s White Paper.

However, while this does move on the British debate a bit, it doesn’t address the more pressing issues within the Withdrawal Agreement, notably on the Irish dimension.

The result is thus a summer period where movement will be needed, but without a clear and settled basis from which to work.

The key test of whether this recent work has been of use will be the level of negotiation activity that can be sustained through the coming months, to lay the foundations of an appreciable advance by the time of the October European Council.

PDF versions: A50 timeline Jul 18; A50 progress Jul 18; A50 barriers Jul 18