The UK leaves the EU January 31 at 4:37 a.m.
The UK will withdraw from the European Union, which has been a member for 47 years on the 31st. Since the 2016 referendum, the political and social turmoil in Britain due to the intense debate over the conditions for withdrawal has come to a major turning point.
In the UK, a referendum held in 2016 decided to withdraw from the EU, but there was intense debate over the conditions for withdrawal and whether or not to leave in the first place, initially scheduled for March last year. The withdrawal has been postponed three times.
However, with the ruling and conservative party led by Prime Minister Johnson, who alleged realization of the withdrawal in the general election last December, deliberations in the chaotic Congress proceeded smoothly, and withdrawal-related bills this month. The procedures required for withdrawal are now completed.
As a result, the UK, including its predecessor EC-European Community, will leave the EU, which has been a member for 47 years, at 11:00 pm on the 31st and 8:00 am on the 1st of Japan time.
In Europe, Denmark's Greenland has withdrawn from the EC in 1985, but this is the first time that a member has left the country and is a crucial point for the EU, which has been expanding since its inception.
In the UK, EU rules will continue to apply and trade with EU countries will continue until the end of December in order to avoid a sudden change due to withdrawal until the end of December.
The British government is aiming to sign a free trade agreement with the EU during the transition period, and Prime Minister Johnson is confident that the deal will be signed during the period. However, there are persistent concerns that it will be difficult in less than a year, and attention will be paid to the future of negotiations.