News Analysis India

Tag: Post-Brexit

  • EU Officials Formally Sign Post-Brexit Trade Deal With UK

    The top European Union (EU) officials on December 30 have formally signed the post-Brexit trade agreement with the UK. The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel put pen to paper on Wednesday morning (local time) in a brief signature ceremony held in Brussels. 

    These documents are now set to be flown to London reportedly in an RAF plane for the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to sign before being provisionally applied as of January 1, 2021. Even though the presidents of the European Commission and European Council have signed the agreement, it will now be examined by the EU Parliament and the Council before being ratified by the EU.

  • Donald Trump Administration Says US Ready To Build Stronger Post-Brexit Ties With UK, EU

    The United States has congratulated Britain and the European Union for reaching a trade agreement before the end of the transition phase on December 31. The White House National Security Council congratulated both UK and EU for concluding the historic Brexit deal and said that it “stands ready” to work with all and build stronger transatlantic ties. Britain and the EU announced reaching a trade agreement on the eve of Christmas after months of negotiations between London and Brussels. 

    Both sides agreed on a Brexit trade deal on December 24, just a week before the United Kingdom was scheduled to leave the European Union fully. Britain had officially exited the 28-nation bloc on January 31, 2020, following which it moved into a transition phase to negotiate a trade agreement with the EU. Britain will become free from the liability of the bloc starting January 1, 2021, onwards, meaning it will no longer have to comply with EU rules.

  • EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier Arrives In UK To Resume ‘physical Negotiations’

    The European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier on November 27 said that the EU-UK post-Brexit “physical” negotiations can continue now. Taking to Twitter, Barnier informed that he is ‘no longer in quarantine’. A colleague had tested positive for COVID-19 last week following which Barnier had resorted to self-isolation. Ahead of travelling to the UK to resume face-to-face trade talks, the chief negotiator also said that “same significant divergences persist”. The deadline is nearing and many feel that the United Kingdom would have to exit the bloc without a deal.

    The UK-EU negotiators are striving to strike a deal to govern their trading relationship once the UK’s post-Brexit transition period ends in January 2021. Over the past week, talks have been continuing via video links, however, on Friday Barnier travelled to London after briefing EU ambassadors and members of the European Parliament on talks. Ahead of in-person talks, his UK counterpart David Frost also pledged to do his bit to ensure that he freezes the deal. 

    While taking to Twitter, Frost said that an EU-UK post-Brexit deal was “still possible”. Frost said that he would continue negotiating on behalf of Britain, adding he would stop if there is proof to the contrary. Further, he also added that for a deal to be possible, the EU must fully respect the UK’s sovereignty, including giving the country the freedom to decide on the subsidy control system and fishing rights.