The United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020. A transition period is now in place until 31 December 2020. During this period the UK must comply with all EU rules and laws. Virtually nothing will change for businesses or for the public. There will be changes after the transition period, whether or not an agreement is reached on the new relationship between the UK and the EU.
Transition period after approval of withdrawal agreement
The UK left the EU at midnight CET (23.00 GMT) on 31 January 2020. A transition period is now in place until 31 December 2020. During this period all EU rules and laws will continue to apply to the UK. Virtually nothing will change for businesses or for the public. This will give everyone more time to prepare for the new agreements that the EU and the UK intend to make after 31 December 2020.
On 17 October 2019 the UK and the EU reached an agreement on the conditions for the UK’s departure from the EU (Brexit), and on a transition period until 31 December 2020.
The transition period will not be extended. The UK has said that it does not want an extension. The option of an extension was contained in the withdrawal agreement. The UK and the EU had until 1 July 2020 to agree on a possible extension.
During the transition period the UK and the EU are continuing to negotiate their new relationship. This includes agreeing on how companies in the EU will be able to do business in and with the UK after the transition period. They will also negotiate on security cooperation.
The new relationship will only become clear when the negotiations are complete, at the end of the transition period. The new agreements will enter into force after the transition period, which will end on 31 December 2020. The EU countries must first approve these new agreements. If the UK and the EU are unable to reach agreement, there will be a ‘no deal’ Brexit. This will happen at the end of the transition period.
In any case the relationship between the UK and the EU will change. For example, there will be checks and more administrative procedures at the border between the UK and the EU. This includes declaring goods you import or export.
Negotiations between the EU and the UK
The Netherlands is not negotiating with the UK directly. The European Commission is doing so on behalf of the remaining 27 EU member states, on the basis of the mandate it has been given by the EU countries. This mandate sets out what the Commission can discuss with the UK and what negotiating position it should take.
In June the EU and the UK agreed to step up negotiations through weekly meetings and video conferences.
Brexit timelineKey dates in the Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU:
The new relationship between the EU and the UK begins, provided an agreement has been reached that has been approved by the EU member states, the European Parliament and the UK parliament.
After the UK House of Lords approved the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill on 22 January, the Bill received royal assent from the Queen. The European Parliament approved the agreement on 29 January.
The House of Commons votes in favour of the Brexit bill. That means the UK is on track to leave the EU on 31 January. The House of Lords and the European Parliament still have to approve the agreement, however.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins the UK general election. This makes it likely that the Brexit agreement will be approved soon. If the UK parliament approves the agreement, the European Parliament can vote on it in January.
EU heads of state and government approve postponing the Brexit date to 31 January 2020, or earlier if the UK and European parliaments approve the withdrawal agreement before then.
The EU The EU agrees to push back the Brexit date to 31 January 2020. However, the heads of state and government of the remaining 27 EU member states must also give their approval.
On 22 October the UK parliament agreed to consider the Brexit legislation. But it decided more time was needed than the UK prime minister had proposed. This means that withdrawal with an agreement is no longer feasible on the intended Brexit date of 31 October. The Brexit agreement will not take effect before the Brexit legislation has been passed by the UK parliament.
The UK parliament decides that an additional extension of the Brexit date is necessary because it wishes to first consider the relevant legislation before voting on the withdrawal agreement. The British government then asks the EU to push back the Brexit date to 31 January 2020.
The European Union and the United Kingdom have approved the withdrawal agreement. The UK parliament and the European Parliament still have to approve the withdrawal agreement.
The 27 remaining EU-member states again allow the UK to postpone its departure, now until 31 October 2019 at the latest. Provided the UK takes part in the elections for the European Parliament, starting from 23 May 2019.
The other 27 EU member states indicate their willingness to allow the UK to postpone its departure (the UK had been due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019). If the UK parliament approves the withdrawal agreement on 29 March at the latest, Brexit will be delayed until 22 May to allow time to pass the necessary legislation. If the UK parliament has not approved the agreement by then, Brexit will be delayed until 12 April.
British Prime Minister Theresa May asks the EU to postpone Brexit until 30 June 2019. But this does not rule out the possibility that the UK will leave without a deal on 29 March. First, the other 27 EU member states must unanimously approve Mrs May's request.
The EU and the UK reach a provisional agreement. It includes a transition period until 31 December 2020 in which all EU rules continue to apply. It also covers the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The EU27 (EU member states except for the UK) establish that sufficient progress has been made in phase 1. This means that phase 2 of the negotiations can begin. In phase 2, the EU and the UK continue to negotiate the withdrawal agreement. But they also start discussing a transition period and exploring their future relationship.
