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All 27 EU states officially approved the start of the Brexit trade pact with Britain on January 1. This was confirmed on Tuesday by the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD). Germany will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU until the end of the year. Now the only thing missing is the approval of the British Parliament and the signature of both parties on Wednesday. So by the end of the year a strong economic break with the former EU member will be avoided.
“On January 1, we will say ‘Hello, goodbye’ to Great Britain,” Maas said. “The transition phase is ending, the UK is now effectively leaving the European internal market and customs union. At the same time, our new comprehensive partnership begins.” In the last meters of the EU Council Presidency, Germany had done everything possible to ensure that the association agreement could be applied provisionally on 1 January 2021. “By joining forces, we managed to avoid a chaotic turn of the year “.
The agreement will be signed on Wednesday morning (9:30 am) by the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the Council, Charles Michel, as announced by the spokesperson of the Commission, Dana Spinant, On twitter. “An important moment,” he wrote. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will sign the contract in London.
The nearly 1,250-page trade and association agreement regulates economic relations after the transition phase of Brexit. 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.
The provisional application of the treaty is necessary because there is no time for the European Parliament to ratify it before the end of the year; It should be done after the New Year. A vote is expected in February or March after close examination. EU parliamentarians insist that this procedure remains a unique exception.
Approval is expected in the UK Parliament on Wednesday. Hardliners of Brexit from Johnson’s Conservative Party’s European Research Group (ERG) support the deal, as announced. The treaty “preserves the sovereignty of Great Britain,” European skeptics stressed.
Labor opposition leaders had also voiced support for the Johnson deal. This is not without controversy in the opposition party. Some Labor MPs sent an open letter calling for rejection. Labor leader Keir Starmer, however, had emphasized that this trade pact was better than none.
Negotiators on both sides agreed to the deal on Christmas Eve. Despite the regulations, the relationship will be much less close in the future than before. Despite the contract, merchandise controls are required at borders, among other things because evidence of compliance with food and product standards must be provided.
EU negotiator Michel Barnier told Franceinfo on Tuesday that the agreement meant calm and stability for many citizens and businesses. Brexit is still painful and many things will change. In addition to merchandise checks, Barnier mentioned the British withdrawal from the Erasmus student exchange and future visas required for stays of more than 90 days.
Barnier emphasized that Britain was now alone in the global world, while the European Union remained united. “I definitely think it’s better to be with our neighbors, in a union, in a common market, than for everyone to be on their own,” said Barnier.
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