Johnson confirms that his country will be the best friend and ally of the Union

The European Union signs the agreement with Britain on the eve of the separation between the two parties

Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel after the agreement was signed yesterday.

Father

Yesterday, European Union officials signed the post-Brexit agreement with London, on the eve of the complete separation between the two parties and Britain's exit from the single European market, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that his country would be "the Union's best friend and ally."

During a short ceremony in Brussels, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, signed the agreement, which will enter into force this evening, while the British House of Commons voted yesterday in favor of the draft trade agreement bill with the European Union, by a majority 521 members compared to 73 members.

"The road was long, and now is the time to leave Brexit behind," Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet on the social networking site "Twitter".

Our future is built in Europe. ”

In a statement, Charles Michel said, "The agreement signed came after months of intense negotiations in which the European Union countries showed an unprecedented level of unity, describing the agreement as fair and balanced and fully protects basic interests and provides stability and predictability for citizens and companies."

Regarding the main issues, Michel said, “The European Union stands ready to work side by side with the United Kingdom, especially with regard to climate change, before the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, and at the global level, and in the field of responding to epidemics, especially Through a possible treaty on epidemics, and in foreign affairs ».

For his part, Johnson told the British House of Commons yesterday: "Britain will become a friendly neighbor, the best friend and ally that the European Union can obtain, and it will work hand in hand when our values ​​and interests are in harmony with respecting the British people's desire to live under their own laws."

Yesterday, the 27 European Union countries paved the way for the temporary implementation of the trade agreement with Britain for the post-Brexit period, and none of the European Union ambassadors objected to the implementation of the agreement, which made it possible for European Union presidents to sign the agreement.

After 47 years of European integration and four years of wrangling following the referendum on "Brexit", Britain, which officially left the European Union on January 31, will stop implementing European rules, and will leave the single European market, the customs union, and the Erasmus exchange program at the university level. .

Johnson said in a statement that "the bill presented to the representatives shows that the United Kingdom can be European and enjoy sovereignty at the same time," adding: "We will open a new chapter in the life of our nation and conclude trade agreements with various parties in the world, and we will confirm that the United Kingdom is a power." She works for the common good, is open to the outside, and liberal ».

With this agreement concluded after fierce negotiations that lasted for months, the European Union will provide Britain with access to its market of 450 million consumers without customs duties or quotas, but it reserves the right to impose penalties and compensation measures in case the rules are not respected in terms of state aid, the environment and the right to work. And taxes to avoid any dumping of the market, and the end of the transitional phase carries a major change, as the customs checks at the borders will weigh on the exchanges, while freedom of movement for British and European Union citizens will stop between the territories of the two parties.

Through this economic and trade partnership, the European Union allows London to enter without customs duties or quotas to its market of 450 million consumers, but provides for penalties and compensation measures in the event that it does not comply with the terms of the agreement.

UK unity is also fracturing.

In Scotland, poll results showed that a majority of the population now supports independence, which was rejected in 2015.

President of the European Council:

• "The agreement is fair and balanced, and the member states have shown an unprecedented unity."

President of the European Commission:

• "The road was long, and now is the time to leave (Brexit) behind."

• The end of the transitional period stops, with it the freedom of movement for the British and citizens of the Union.

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