The Commission reaches an agreement with the UK on the future relationship

24 de Diciembre de 2020

The European Commission has reached today, Christmas Eve, an agreement with the United Kingdom on the terms of its future cooperation with the European Union leading to the epilogue, after more than four years of vicissitudes and negotiations, the Brexit book.

The main goals of the so-called 'Trade and Cooperation Agreement' are: protecting European interests, ensuring fair competition, and continued cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The announcement comes after nine months of intensive negotiations. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that "It was worth fighting for this deal because we now have a fair and balanced agreement with the UK, which will protect our European interests, ensure fair competition, and provide much needed predictability for our fishing communities. Finally, we can leave Brexit behind us and look to the future. Europe is now moving on.”

The European Commission's Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, recalled that the protection of EU interests has been front and centre throughout these negotiations to get a deal adding that he is pleased that they have managed to do so.

The draft Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which still has to be endorsed by the European Parliament and The Council of the EU to entry into force, consists of three main pillars: a Free Trade Agreement meaning a new economic and social partnership with the United Kingdom, a new partnership for EU citizens' security, and a horizontal agreement on Governance.

However, despite this deal on the future EU-UK relationship, the Commission has recalled that major changes are coming as of January 1, 2021, since the UK will leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union, as well as all EU policies and International agreements. The free movement of persons, goods, services and capital between the UK and the EU will come to an end. The EU and the UK will form two separate markets, two distinct regulatory and legal spaces so this will create barriers to trade in goods and services, cross-border mobility and exchanges that do not exist today – in both directions.

Foreign policy, external security and defence cooperation are not covered by the Agreement as the UK refused to negotiate these matters, therefore as of 1 January 2021, there will be no framework in place to develop and coordinate joint responses to foreign policy challenges, for instance the imposition of sanctions on third country nationals or economies.

The Agreement reached by the Commission's negotiator team is a major step forward to establish a close relationship between the EU and the UK. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, has thanked President von der Leyen and Chief Negotiator Barnier for their tireless efforts stating that “For our citizens and businesses a comprehensive agreement with our neighbour, friend and ally is the best outcome. Over the past years the EU has shown unity and determination in its negotiations with the UK. We will continue to uphold the same unity. These have been very challenging negotiations but the process is not over. Now is the time for the Council and the European Parliament to analyse the agreement reached at negotiators’ level, before they give their green lights.”

The entry into application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement is a matter of special urgency in the wake of the extensive links between the Union and the UK as a former Member State so the Commission will propose to apply the Agreement on a provisional basis, for a limited period of time until 28 February 2021.

After the EU Member States at the Council adopt a decision authorising its signature and provisional application as of 1 January 2021, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK will can be formally signed and the European Parliament then be asked to give its consent.

As a last step on the EU side, The Council must adopt the final decision on the conclusion of the Agreement.