Boris Withdrawal Agreement Summary: What You Need to Know
Following several months of negotiations, Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally struck a Brexit deal with the European Union in late 2019. The Withdrawal Agreement has since undergone a number of changes, but here’s a summary of the key points you need to know.
What is the Withdrawal Agreement?
The Withdrawal Agreement is a legally binding document that details the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU. It covers a range of issues including citizens’ rights, financial settlement, and the Irish border.
What are the key points?
Citizens’ rights: The rights of UK and EU citizens already living in each other’s territories before the end of the transition period (31st December 2020) will be protected. This includes the right to live and work in the other’s country, as well as access to healthcare and pensions.
Financial settlement: The UK will pay a divorce bill to the EU of around £35-£39 billion, covering its outstanding financial commitments to the bloc.
Irish border: A key issue in the negotiations, the Withdrawal Agreement includes a ‘backstop’ arrangement to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This would create a single regulatory area for goods and agriculture, with Northern Ireland following some EU rules to ensure there are no border checks.
Transition period: The UK will enter a transition period running until 31st December 2020, during which time it will continue to follow EU rules, pay into the EU budget, and have access to the single market. This period can be extended once, for a maximum of two years, if both the UK and the EU agree.
What has changed since the deal was first agreed?
The biggest change to the Withdrawal Agreement came in late 2019, when the UK and EU agreed on a revised deal. The changes included:
– Removal of the Irish backstop: This was replaced with a new protocol on Northern Ireland, which would see Northern Ireland effectively remain in the EU’s single market for goods.
– Changes to the political declaration: This sets out the framework for the future UK-EU relationship, and was amended to reflect the changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.
What happens next?
The Withdrawal Agreement has been approved by the UK Parliament, but it still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament. This is expected to happen in early 2020. After ratification, the UK will leave the EU on 31st January 2020 and enter the transition period. During this time, negotiations will begin on the future UK-EU relationship, covering trade, security, and other areas.
