Historical day

The Brexit legislation required a signature of Queen Elizabeth before it came into force. Photo: LINDSEY PARNABY / TT

Will the UK really leave the EU now?

- Yes! And it is a historic day as it is the first time ever a Member State leaves the EU. At the same time, it is the end of phase one in the Brexit process, phase two now begins, says SVT's foreign reporter Anna-Maja Persson.

- But for most people, the exit will not be noticed at all. A major concrete change is that the UK can no longer participate in EU decision-making.

EU rules apply by 2020

Traveling to the UK in 2020 will be like traveling to an EU country for EU citizens. Photo: Ross D. Franklin / TT

On 1 February, a transition period commencing until the end of the year will commence, in order to make the exit as smooth as possible.

- In principle everything will be as before. Trade and travel roll on as usual, says Anna-Maja Persson.

During the year, the UK and the EU will agree on what relationship they should have in the future. At the same time, the British continue to be part of the EU's internal market and the customs union, as well as pay to the EU budget.

However, Swedes who do not have British citizenship and wish to live in the UK after the Brexit have entered into force fully apply for "settled status", a new permanent residence permit.

Tough negotiations

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Gian Ehrenzeller / TT

At the end of February or early March negotiations are expected to start between the EU and the UK. The number one priority is to agree on a new trade agreement.

- This is going to be tough. As it seems now, the European Commission and the British Government partly want completely different things. But it can also be about negotiating tactics, it is impossible to know, says Anna-Maja Persson.

- If there is no new trade agreement in place at the turn of the year, it can be a hard Brexit, that danger is not over.

Tight schedule

EU chief negotiator on the Brexit issue Michel Barnier does not believe in the timetable. Photo: Jean-Francois Badias / TT

June 30 is the last day for the British to request an extension of the negotiations. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determined to leave the Union fully in 2021.

- Here are the parties on collision course. The EU chief negotiator has said that it is impossible to row everything in port during these ten months. Maybe we can agree on a basic trade agreement, so we don't have a hard Brexit and leave another for the future, says Anna-Maja Persson.

Is the UK completely out of EU 2021?

- It's impossible to predict. It is a tug of war about the time between the EU and the UK and right now no one wants to give up.