Brexit - new EU-UK partnership: where do we stand?
On 24 December 2020 the negotiators from the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) reached an agreement on a new partnership. This agreement sets out the rules that apply between the EU and the UK as of 1 January 2021.
The EU member states approved the agreement on 29 December 2020. The UK parliament’s approval followed on 31 December 2020. The European Parliament will approve the agreement in 2021. On 1 January 2021 provisional application of the agreement took effect and the new rules entered into force.
The agreement between the EU and UK on a new partnership sets out the new rules that apply as of 1 January 2021 in the relationship between the EU and the UK. It covers areas such as:
trade in goods and services;
a level playing field;
fisheries;
aviation and road transport;
social security;
UK participation in EU programmes;
internal security.
New rules for doing business with UK and travelling to UK
New rules now apply when doing business with the UK. For example, there are now checks and more administrative procedures at the border between the UK and EU. Read more about the changes for businesses as of 1 January 2021 here.
In the period ahead the information on this website will be updated to reflect the agreement.
Transition period ended on 31 December 2020
The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. A transition period was in place until 31 December 2020, during which all EU rules and laws continued to apply to the UK. Some of the rules set out in the UK Withdrawal Agreement of 12 November 2019 continue to apply now that the transition period has ended. One example is the rules concerning citizens’ rights.
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.
The UK House of Commons approves the agreement between the EU and the UK on a new partnership by passing the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson sign the agreement on a new partnership.
The negotiators from the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) have reached an agreement on a new partnership. The European Parliament and the member states still have to approve the agreement. This process will begin very soon.
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.
