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At 11 p.m. tonight, the United Kingdom leaves the transition phase of Brexit in the European Union, ending 48 years of history with the European project.
Last night British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the fate of the UK is now firmly in the hands of its people.
He said his government will take on duty “with a sense of purpose and with the interests of the British public at the center of everything” it does.
Johnson spoke of wanting a new relationship with the EU as his greatest ally, after MPs yesterday approved the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement with an overwhelming majority in a House of Commons vote.
17.4 million voters, or 52%, chose to leave the EU in a referendum on June 23, 2016. 16.1 million, or 48%, voted to remain.
The outcome of that referendum has dominated British politics ever since and has seen the departure of two prime ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May, amidst the debate over whether to call another referendum and how the outcome of the UK vote should be implemented. 2016.
The referendum showed a UK divided into much more than the European Union, and has fueled soul-searching on everything from secession and immigration to capitalism, empire and modern Britain.
After the UK leaves the Single Market and the Customs Union tonight, there will almost certainly be some disruption at the borders. More bureaucracy means more costs for those who import and export goods across the EU-UK border.
The English port of Dover expects volumes to decline in early January. The most worrying period, he says, will be mid to late January, when volumes pick up again.
Moving away from nearly half a century of membership means switching to everything from pet passports and driving license rules for British people in Europe to data rules.
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After closing a trade deal on Christmas Eve aimed at smoothing out the worst disruption, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cited William Shakespeare and TS Eliot.
“Parting is such a sweet pain,” he said. “What we call the beginning is often the end. And reaching an end is beginning.”
Agreement reached to keep the Gibraltar border open
Gibraltar’s border with Spain will remain open after the end of the Brexit transition period, after the UK and the European Union agreed on a draft agreement.
The state of The Rock was not covered in the trade agreement reached by Boris Johnson on Christmas Eve, raising concerns about what would happen when the transition period ends at 11 p.m. tonight.
Gibraltar, whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain and Great Britain, will remain subject to the Schengen area of free travel rule, said Spain’s foreign minister.
Arancha González Laya announced that the “agreement in principle” means that the people of Gibraltar “can breathe relieved.”
He said more details about the deal would be released in the New Year.
Chancellor Dominic Raab said: “Today, working side by side with the Prime Minister of Gibraltar, and after intense discussions with the Spanish government, we reached an agreement on a political framework to form the basis of a separate treaty between the UK and the EU with respect to Gibraltar.
“We will now send this to the European Commission to start negotiations on the formal treaty.
In the meantime, all parties have committed to mitigating the effects of the end of the transition period in Gibraltar and, in particular, to ensuring border fluidity, which is clearly in the best interests of the people living on both sides.
“We remain steadfast in our support for Gibraltar and its sovereignty. I am grateful to Foreign Minister Laya and her team for their positive and constructive approach.
“We have a warm and strong relationship with Spain and we look forward to building on it in 2021.”
Minister updates Fisheries Impact Cabinet
The agriculture minister has said that while trade can continue without tariffs, earlier this week he updated the cabinet on possible impacts on the agri-food and fishing sectors.
“The main impacts in relation to administrative costs in trade with Great Britain and also the sanitary certification and sanitary and phytosanitary controls to which agri-food products must be subjected,” said Charlie McConalogue.
“There are different assessments of what that could mean,” he added.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Philip Boucher Hayes, he said that significant support has already been secured before Brexit for the agri-food sector in terms of grants and financial support.
He also said that after Brexit he will go to Brussels to fight the Irish case with the greatest possible force for the fishing sector.
“The Brexit adjustment reserve, we will seek our significant share in terms of compensation.
“Also, in terms of working with my European colleagues to ensure that we have as strong a quota allocation as possible.”
Meanwhile, Revenue has confirmed that its specialized Customs Service is already operating ahead of the Brexit transition period ending tonight.
From 11pm, a valid Pre-Shipment Notification (PBN) will be required for all goods transported in commercial vehicles to and from Great Britain by ferry.
Revenue says that its Customs Roll on-Roll off (RoRo) service is up and running and a freight company, carrier, importer, exporter or customs broker can create a PBN for any ferry that leaves after 11pm.
The Customs Ro-Ro Service was designed to help efficiently move goods and vehicles between Ireland and Great Britain.
The service also allows truck drivers to check, before disembarking from a ferry in Ireland, if a vehicle can leave the port or if it is necessary to call Customs.
Additional reports Mícheál Lehane
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