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The agreement may provisionally enter into force at the end of the year. British MPs voted in favor of the pact by a large majority. EU leaders have already signed.
The British House of Commons voted by a large majority on Wednesday afternoon in favor of the trade pact with the EU, which is supposed to regulate relations after Brexit is completed at the end of the year. In the lower house, the House of Commons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a clear majority. More recently, the Brexit hardliners within the party had supported the pact. The largest opposition faction, Labor, had already given its approval in principle.
Now the House of Lords, the House of Lords, has to approve the contract. It cannot be ruled out that minor changes will be decided there, which then the first chamber will have to decide again.
After all, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of state, is supposed to bring the treaty into force on the British side with her approval (“Royal Consent”).
Pact already signed by EU leaders
EU leaders have already signed the Brexit trade pact with Great Britain. The ceremony with the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the EU Council, Charles Michel, was broadcast on the internet on Wednesday morning. From the point of view of Brussels, this means that the last hurdle before the implementation of the contract has been overcome as of January 1.
Council leader Michel praised the deal as fair and balanced. It protects the interests of the European Union and creates stability and reliability for citizens and businesses, Michel explained. The EU will continue to stand by the UK’s side on important issues such as climate protection and the global fight against pandemics.
Britain and the EU had only agreed to the treaty on Christmas Eve. The laboriously negotiated trade and association agreement of around 1,250 pages aims to regulate economic relations between the island and the mainland as of January 2021. The most important point is to avoid tariffs and ensure that trade is as smooth as possible. . The contract also includes fishing and cooperation in energy, transport, justice, police and many other topics. At the moment, however, it can only be applied provisionally because there was no time for ratification by the European Parliament before the end of the year. Voting is scheduled for February or March.
(WHAT / dpa)
