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On Christmas Eve, it was four and a half years since the referendum when a narrow majority of Britons supported leaving the EU. After an unlikely series of disputes, divisions, negotiations, referendums and a new election, new Prime Minister Boris Johnson was able to reach an exit agreement with the EU and finally leave the European Union on January 31.
READ MORE: Cold shower for Swedish companies, despite agreements
The transition period runs until December 31, but despite no decisive progress in talks with the EU, Boris Johnson has refused to request an extension. He advocated for a deal with the EU, but not at the cost of Britain not regaining its self-determination and control over borders, laws and taxes.
Boris Johnson announced on twitter
As recently as Wednesday, it seemed dark. Everything indicated that the parties did not have an agreement and that it would be costly for the British because taxes, tariffs and time-consuming border bureaucracy had to be introduced in just one week. This happened while the truck queues were kilometers long at the Dover ferry terminal due to restrictions due to the alarming development of the pandemic, as a reminder of what to expect.
READ MORE: Brexit deal ready between the UK and the EU
It is a fact that the EU and the UK are and remain highly interdependent in areas such as trade, transport and security. One particularly difficult issue has been fishing rights.
But after a Christmas Eve of tense waiting and negotiations to the end, the message arrived at 4 pm “The deal is ready,” Boris Johnson announced on Twitter.
Cooperation against terrorism and crime
At a press conference in Brussels, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU and the UK had finally agreed to a free trade agreement:
– It is time to turn the page and look to the future.
The EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said after the marathon of talks, tired but happy:
– The clock is no longer ticking.
The agreement has been built “step by step,” he said, describing it as a new generation of free trade agreements. But it’s not just about trade:
– For the safety of our citizens, the EU and the UK will continue to work together against terrorism and crime.
Johnson: worth 600 billion a year
Ursula von der Leyen considered that the agreement was fair and balanced.
– It has been a long and winding road but we have a good agreement. We will continue to work together in areas such as climate and safety policy, and we have secured five and a half years of full predictability for our fishermen, he said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British will have full political and economic independence from January 1. He calculated that the first duty-free trade agreement reached with the EU would be worth more than 600 billion pounds a year.
“The agreement defends employment, allows goods to be sold without tariffs or import quotas in the EU, and will allow our companies to do more business with our European friends,” he told a press conference, adding:
– We have regained control of our future.
As an independent coastal nation, British fishermen will be able to catch more fish from British waters than before, he emphasizes.
The agreement is said to be 2,000 pages long
Boris Johnson also sees benefits for the EU:
– We will continue to be your allies. Culturally, historically, emotionally and strategically, we are connected to Europe.
Free movement ceases, it is said. It is replaced by a points-based system for immigration. In fact, much is not clear about the content. The agreement is said to be 2,000 pages long with appendices. The influential group of British conservative politicians who have pushed for the resignation must carefully review the text together with the lawyers before they are prepared to support it. It is not believed to affect parliamentary approval, but it does show that there may be obstacles.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticizes the implications of the agreement and Brexit in general. She is eager for a new referendum on Scottish independence and, according to the latest polls, has a headwind on public opinion. It will be a long-term problem that threatens Britain as we know it.
Löfven positive to clear agreement
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, recalls that the Brexit process will continue. It is now up to the European Council and the European Parliament to analyze the agreement before giving the green light.
In a statement to TT, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven reflects what many of the EU heads of state and government feel after the Christmas Eve deal:
“With an agreement, we are much better equipped, although of course the UK will still feel like leaving the EU. The framework now exists for future close cooperation between the UK, Sweden and the EU.”
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