The latest withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, also known as the Brexit deal, was agreed upon on December 24th, 2020. The agreement outlines the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU, including issues related to trade, citizens` rights, and the Irish border.
One of the key aspects of the agreement is the establishment of a free trade agreement between the UK and the EU. This agreement ensures that there will be no tariffs or quotas on goods traded between the two parties, which will help to facilitate trade and support businesses on both sides of the Channel.
The agreement also includes provisions for protecting citizens` rights. UK citizens living in an EU country and EU citizens living in the UK will continue to have the same rights as they did before the UK`s departure from the EU. This includes the right to work, study, and access healthcare.
One of the more contentious issues that the withdrawal agreement seeks to address is the situation with the Irish border. The agreement establishes a new arrangement for Northern Ireland, which will remain part of the UK customs territory but will also have access to the EU Single Market. This avoids the need for a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which could have had negative economic and political consequences.
Overall, the withdrawal agreement represents a significant milestone in the UK`s departure from the EU. While there are still many details to be worked out, the agreement provides a framework for the future relationship between the UK and the EU, which will include ongoing cooperation on a range of issues such as security, research, and innovation.