Brexit: the EU and the United Kingdom find an agreement, looking back on 4 years of negotiations
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during Brexit negotiations in Brussels, December 9, 2020. AFP - AARON CHOWN
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Like a Christmas present: after ten months of tense and laborious negotiations, the European Union and the United Kingdom have finally reached an agreement between European sources on their future trade relationship and are therefore avoiding a "no deal" in extremis. one week from the final break.
Back to four years of laborious negotiations, since the referendum in 2016, when the British decided to leave the EU.
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On June 23, 2016, by referendum, the British say “
yes
” to Brexit with 51.9% of the vote.
The
Prime Minister David Cameron, who was against the departure of the EU
, was replaced as head of the country by Theresa May, who starts the negotiation process March 29, 2017, for two years and in two phases: first terms divorce, then development of future London-Brussels relations.
On the first point, the agreement was approved on November 25, 2018 at an extraordinary European summit.
But on three occasions,
the British deputies reject it
.
Brexit is postponed to March 22, then to October 31.
Theresa May is forced to organize the European elections on May 23.
Negotiations of the future relationship: an almost impossible agreement
Weakened, Theresa May resigned on June 7, 2019
- she was then replaced by Boris Johnson, supporter of a Brexit with or without an agreement.
On January 9, 2020, British MPs finally accepted a new version of the agreement: the United Kingdom left the European Union on January 31.
We must now
negotiate the future London-Brussels relationship
, and adapt hundreds of treaties, with fishing, customs duties, and the future settlement of trade disputes between London and Brussels as points of contention.
On September 9, the British government
announced its intention to renege on some of its commitments
made at the time of Brexit concerning Northern Ireland.
He recognizes that this is a violation of international law.
On October 1, the European Union launched an infringement procedure.
The specter of the "
no deal
", before the "
deal
"
But on December 8, London and Brussels announced an agreement on the application of special customs and tax provisions for Northern Ireland.
The British government then withdraws the articles of its law
challenged by the EU.
But negotiations are not progressing on other subjects.
For months, negotiations slip.
The British government repeats that without a deal it will take the option of a hard Brexit and will not ask for a further extension of the transition.
The access of European fishermen to British waters remained the ultimate sticking point
.
A "
no deal
" becomes more and more likely as we approach the end of the transition period, December 31, 2020. But the two parties are intensifying the meetings.
On Christmas Eve, at the end of a final night of talks, the two leaders then meet on Thursday, December 24 by videoconference and pull off a compromise.
The British settlement ultimately paved the way for an agreement.
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: Brexit, a tumultuous story
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Brexit
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Boris Johnson
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Ursula von der Leyen
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