[ad_1]
After 48 years of stormy relations, the United Kingdom left the European single market at 11:00 local time, or 1:00 on New Year’s Eve, Greek time, completing its historic break with the European Union.
Britain formally withdrew on January 31, 2020, but benefited from the call “transition time” to mitigate the impact. The transitional period set by the Exit Agreement in early 2020 ended with the New Year.
British Prime Minister Boris johnson described the exit of his country from the European single market as an “incredible moment”, and assured that Britain will remain “open, generous and outgoing”.
“It is an incredible moment.” We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it, “he said in his New Year’s message.
“I think the overwhelming instinct of the people of this country will be to come together in a UK where England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will work together to express our values around the world,” he said. Prime Minister and one of the pioneers of Brexit.
And this UK will be “open, generous, outgoing, international and free in favor,” he added.
The french president Emanuel MacronExpressing his wishes to the French for 2021, he stressed that even after Brexit, which marks his departure from the European Union, the UK remains “our friend and ally”. “This Brexit was the offspring of European resentment and many lies and false promises,” Macron said, assuring France that “our destiny is primarily European.”
The Economic and Trade Association Agreement between the European Union and Britain, a text of 1,246 pages, defines tonight the framework that will govern their relationship.
What is changing in relations between the European Union and Great Britain?
Goods
The agreement guarantees tax-free exchanges, customs controls and quotas for “all goods that comply with the rules of origin». Unprecedented for a trade deal.
The agreement avoids the breakdown of the productive chains and avoids the imposition of tariffs of 10% on the automotive sector, 25% on processed products based on catches and 50% on beef, dairy, poultry and pigs. , lamb, cereals, sugar and a range of processed food products.
However, companies must present customs documents in both directions and the products must go through sanitary controls.
Competition
THE Britain and the European Union undertake to comply with the conditions of equal competition. London undertakes not to manually review all European social, labor, environmental and climate laws and regulations in force on December 31, 2020 and adapt to their evolution.
The agreement provides for the possibility of applying unilateral balancing measures, mainly through the imposition of duties, in the event of significant discrepancies that may lead to an increase in production costs and, consequently, to a disadvantage in competition.
Various
If the UK or the European Union do not comply with the terms of the agreement, a dispute resolution mechanism will take care of resolving them, as is the case in most trade agreements.
By its contrast London, the Court of Justice of the European Union will not interfere with the process. A “Joint Council” will oversee the interpretation and application of the terms of the agreement.
Fishing
The agreement establishes that European fishermen will have access to British waters for a transitional period of five and a half years, until 2026. During this period, the European Union must progressively reduce the value of its catches in British waters by 25%. corresponding to 650 million euros per year.
If the UK restricts EU access or catches, the Union can take reciprocal action by imposing homework in fish products and other British goods, to the point of terminating much of the trade agreement while keeping the rules of fair competition intact.
Transport
The agreement guarantees a permanent air, land, rail and maritime connection, but in a much less privileged way than it would be if the UK it had remained in the single market.
The agreement guarantees equal competition between transport operators so as not to endanger the rights of passengers, workers and transportation safety.
Programs
The UK will continue to participate in certain European Union programs for the period 2021-2027, such as the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program, provided that it contributes to the European budget. But the UK will be left out of the Erasmus student exchange program.
Judicial cooperation
The agreement introduces a new framework in the field of police and judicial cooperation. “particularly in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism».
The two parties will continue to share DNA, fingerprint, and passenger information and work together through Europol.
This cooperation could end if the UK withdraws from the European Convention on Human Rights or abandons its implementation at the national level.
Financial services
As of January 1, the United Kingdom will no longer benefit from the principles of free movement of persons, freedom to provide services and freedom of establishment. British institutions will lose the automatic right to offer services throughout the European Union and must be transferred to the EU to continue their activities.
They will no longer participate in the “country of origin” approach or the “passport” system, according to which licenses issued by a Member State under EU rules allow access to the entire EU single market .
Copyright
All protected geographical names in the Union today will remain protected and in the UK, but Brussels has not obtained guarantees for protected geographical names to be registered in the future.
Data Protection
The United Kingdom will remain within the regulatory framework of the European Union in terms of data transfer for a maximum of six months, provided that it is necessary for Brussels to determine whether the data protection regime proposed by London fits the European context.
Agreement monitoring
The agreement will be supervised by a joint committee of both parties. The relationship between the Union and the United Kingdom it can be changed every five years. Unilateral withdrawal from the agreement must be notified one year in advance.
News Today:
Espionage case: 35-year-old consulate secretary demands release
Background: Mitsotakis “gas” to ministers and mandarins for vaccination
Vaccination guidelines for people with underlying diseases and weakened immune systems
