- Drafting
- BBC World News
Image source, Downing Street
Brexit comes as a result of the Brexit referendum held in 2016, in which 52% of voters chose to secede from Brussels.
After months of difficult negotiations, the United Kingdom and the European Union reached an agreement on Thursday to avoid a so-called “hard Brexit.”
The agreement, announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a “good deal,” will regulate trade and security relations starting next year.
“We have regained control of our laws and our destiny,” Johnson said at a press conference from his official residence in Downing Street.
Johnson added that although the negotiations included “heated” discussions, a “good agreement for the whole of Europe” had been reached that would create jobs and prosperity.
For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted, in a press conference from Brussels, that the road was “long and winding,” but a “fair and balanced” agreement was reached.
“It is time to turn the page and look to the future,” von der Leyen said, adding that the UK “remains a reliable partner.”
what is happening now?
December 31 marks the end of the transition period that London and Brussels granted each other after Britain formally completed Brexit on January 31.
This transitional period led to the negotiation of an agreement to regulate the future relationship between the two parties.
Von der Leyen admitted that the road had been “long and winding”, but that a “fair and balanced” agreement had been reached.
The agreement has not yet become law. For this to happen, the British and European Parliaments must ratify it.
Since the negotiations were delayed until December, with only seven days remaining before the end of the transition period, the European Parliament will not have enough time to approve them before then.
This should not prevent the agreement from entering into force on January 1, but its formal approval will take longer.
The UK government could have MPs meet over the Christmas period to vote on the deal.
However, there will not be time to discuss this matter in detail.
Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg
BBC News Political Editor
In the coming days, wars of words will begin over which side gave up the most, who “won” and who “lost” by agreement.
The reality is that both sides will give up. Both the UK and the EU have put pragmatism before consistency in order to reach a historic agreement.
Boris Johnson was accused of violating his promises regarding Britain's exit from the European Union. The details of the agreement may contain evidence of this.
But he has managed to fulfill his greatest obligation: reaching an agreement, which would represent an enormous political and personal relief, perhaps, for the man whose name and reputation will forever be linked to the decision to leave the European Union.
Major agreement
Since the EU accounts for nearly half of Britain's foreign trade, it was important for London to achieve the agreement.
“We have regained control of our money, our borders, our laws, our trade and our fishing waters,” the British government said in a statement published minutes after the agreement was concluded.
“For the first time since 1973, we will be an independent coastal state with full control of our waters,” Boris Johnson said at a press conference.
The British government said in its statement: “Everything that was pledged to the British people during the 2016 referendum and in last year’s general elections was achieved under this agreement.”
As a member of the European Union, the UK had access to some of this aid 40 trade agreements With more than 70 countries around the world. In 2018, these agreements accounted for about 11% of the country's total trade.
London is currently working to establish its own trade rules with the world, and has achieved that 29 of the agreements it concluded with 58 countries or territories, as a member of the European Union, have been renewed, and will enter into force as of January 1, 2021.
It was the last country with which an agreement was reached Mexico On December 15th.
Relief for businesses
The British government said in a statement: “We have signed the first ever tariff-free and quota-free free trade agreement with the European Union.”
Image source, Getty Images
British companies will breathe a sigh of relief after the agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union is achieved.
However, the European Commission noted that “the EU and the UK will form two separate markets, and two different regulatory and legal spheres; this will create barriers to the exchange of goods and services.”
As Darshini David, BBC economics correspondent, points out, Brexit will mean an increase in bureaucratic procedures (forms, checks, etc.) that goods will have to go through.
And all this is worth billions of Britons.
However, with Brexit avoided, many British businesses are breathing a sigh of relief.
The Office for Budget Responsibility, the government's independent adviser, had warned that leaving the bloc without a deal would reduce next year's economic benefits by 2% and lead to significant job losses.
Now you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don't miss our best content.
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before uploading anything, as this site may use cookies and other technology. You may like to read Cookie Agreement And privacy policy From Google YouTube before acceptance. To view this content, select Accept and Continue.
Warning: Content on external and third-party sites may contain advertising
End of YouTube content, 1
“Creator. Devoted pop culture specialist. Certified web fanatic. Unapologetic coffee lover.”