The UK and EU finally reached a post-Brexit deal to prepare for a future relationship
Following months of negotiations, missed deadlines and repeated calls, the UK and EU finally reached a post-Brexit deal to prepare for a future relationship once UK officially leaves the bloc on December 31.
In an immediate comment, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the deal as “historic” and assured that it “will protect European interests”. She advised the EU to “finally put Brexit behind us”, saying: “Europe is continuing to move forward. It is time to turn the page and look to the future.”
Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the agreement as “the biggest trade deal yet”. PM Johnson described the 660 billion pounds deal “a comprehensive Canada-style free trade deal between the UK and the EU” with no quotas or tariffs. Johnson guaranteed the worried citizens “We’ve taken back control of our laws and our destiny.”
The move has ended the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice as the UK would become an “independent coastal state”. PM Boris Johnson, who has been under criticism at home, told the European Union: “We will be your friend, your ally, your supporter and, indeed, never let it be forgotten, your number one market.” British PM Johnson expects a vote in Parliament on December 30 for a final endorsement.
In an earlier statement said Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator had said, “The UK has chosen to leave the EU and the single market, to give up the rights and advantages of a member state… There will therefore be, despite this deal, real changes in the coming days… that is the consequence of Brexit.”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reminded that the UK was now a “third country” but remained a “trusted partner.” AFP quoted a diplomatic source as saying that “the British side was moving but the devil is in the details and we’re not quite there yet.”
EU President spelled out three examples to explain the impartiality of the EU-UK agreement:
1. Competition in our Single Market will be fair and remain so. The EU’s rules and standards will be respected.
2. EU will continue cooperating with the UK, in all areas of mutual interest such as climate change, energy, security and transport.
3. EU and UK have secured five and a half years of full predictability for regional fishing communities and strong tools to incentivize it to remain so.
