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The negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom reached a historic agreement on Thursday that will regulate the relationship between the two blocks after the end of Brexit at the end of this year.
After the “ok” of the negotiators, the agreement will now be formally approved by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as by the British prime minister, Boris Johnson.
After it was announced yesterday that the draft of the agreement was closed, it was necessary to wait until the evening of Christmas Eve for Leyen and Boris Johnson to announce the agreement at a press conference. Before, it was necessary to file the last details in the fisheries dossier, which was the one that most difficult the negotiations during the last months in which the negotiators tried an understanding that would avoid chaos early next year, when the transition period ends. of Brexit. .
Relief
“We have finally reached an agreement. Much progress has been made, but we have a good agreement, which is fair and balanced,” announced Von der Leyen at a press conference with the EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, at the headquarters of the EU executive. .
Underlining that the agreement reached now “prevents further disruptions for workers, businesses and travelers after 1 January 2021”, Von der Leyen admitted “frankly” feeling “relieved” today that the EU can turn this page, however painful it is for many. “To all Europeans, I say: it is time to leave Brexit behind. Our future is made in Europe,” he concluded.
Michel Barnier also considered that today is “a day of relief” and congratulated himself that “the hands of the clock have stopped counting, after four years of collective effort”.
This deal was worth fighting for.
We now have a fair and balanced agreement with the UK. It will protect our EU interests, ensure fair competition and provide predictability for our fishing communities.
Europe is moving forward now. https://t.co/77jrNknlu3
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) Dec 24, 2020
This agreement will formally complete the separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union, four years after the referendum that showed that this is the will of more than half of the British. The existence of an agreement allows to avoid the chaotic Brexit from the beginning of next year, since it establishes the maintenance of trade without tariffs and cooperation in areas as different as security and aviation.
“The deal is fantastic news for families and businesses across the UK,” said a statement, released ahead of an expected press conference from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. London welcomes a “great deal” reached “in record time and under extremely difficult conditions”.
The deal is done. pic.twitter.com/zzhvxOSeWz
– Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) Dec 24, 2020
Boris Johnson wasted no time in drawing political dividends from the understanding reached with the European Union. Even before the agreement was official, according to a document cited by the British press, the British government claimed victory over the European Union on 28 points of the agreement, acknowledging that it only made concessions on 11 issues. It also reports 26 areas where there were commitments from both parties.
What is still missing for the final “ok”
After reaching the agreement with Brussels, the British Prime Minister still has to guarantee the “ok” of Parliament, so he is already internally promoting the merits of the agreement reached.
Now that an agreement has been reached, the ratification process should start urgently. The European Parliament has scheduled an extraordinary plenary session for December 28, an appointment made to avoid a delay in the discussions, as it turned out. However, time is running out and it will be difficult not only to guarantee the ratification (the national parliaments of the 27 Member States must examine) an eventual agreement, but also to guarantee that MEPs are in a position to vote on it next week .
Therefore, to avoid a scenario called precipice, it may be necessary to find conditions so that a partnership agreement that can be formalized can be provisionally applied as of January 1, once the transitional period defined to give stability to relationships has ended. between the British withdrawal from the Union, on January 31, and the definition of a post-Brexit agreement.
This is because, at the beginning of 2021, the United Kingdom is no longer integrated into the single market and the customs union, so exchanges between the two blocs are now regulated by the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO ), whatever happens. it would generate distortions with the application of tariffs and customs controls.
This would necessarily translate into shortages and, for example, endless lines of trucks like those seen in recent days due to the blockade imposed by several European countries on the transport of goods and passengers from the United Kingdom.
(news in update)
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