It was worth fighting for this Brexit Trade Deal said Von der Leyen signing with Charles Michel the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreements. On behalf of the European Union, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission signed this morning the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement. This agreement will now be brought to the United Kingdom to be signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, before being provisionally applied as of 1 January 2021.
This agreement will be part of eudebates at the European Parliament and the Council, before it can be ratified by the European Union. In this context, it is of the utmost importance for the European Union and the United Kingdom to look forward, in view of opening a new chapter in their relations.
The agreement that we signed today is the result of months of intense negotiations in which the European Union has displayed an unprecedented level of unity. It is a fair and balanced agreement that fully protects the fundamental interests of the European Union and creates stability and predictability for citizens and companies.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
Charles Michel, added: “On major issues, the European Union stands ready to work shoulder to shoulder with the United Kingdom. This will be the case on climate change, ahead of the COP 26 in Glasgow, and on the global response to pandemics, in particular with a possible treaty on pandemics. On foreign affairs, we will seek cooperation on specific issues based on shared values and interests.
These are major issues that will have to be discussed on a regular basis, like we do with our strategic partners, and I am looking forward to such a cooperation.”
Agreements to sign are:
- Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.
- Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information.
- Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Atomic Energy Community for Cooperation on the Safe and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
It was worth fighting for this deal. We now have a fair & balanced agreement with the UK. It will protect our EU interests, ensure fair competition & provide predictability for our fishing communities.
Ursula von der Leyen, Commission President (24/122020)
European Parliament to scrutinise deal on future EU-UK relations
Provisional implementation is to remain a unique exception, said EP leaders. Parliamentary oversight will start soon to adopt the EP position before the end of the provisional application. On Monday 28 December, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament and President David Sassoli exchanged views with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier on the Brexit trade deal reached on 24 December on the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
The Conference of Presidents reiterated Parliament’s thanks and congratulations to the EU negotiators for their intense efforts to reach this historic agreement. This can now form the basis of a new partnership.
In the spirit of unity that prevailed throughout the negotiation process. Given the particular, unique and specific circumstances, the Conference of Presidents accepts a provisional application. This agreement will mitigate the disruption for citizens and businesses and prevent the chaos of a no-deal scenario. This decision on this specific provisional application neither constitutes a precedent nor reopens established commitments made among EU institutions. It should not serve as a blueprint for future consent procedures, underlined the political groups’ leaders.
Fair, balanced deal reached with UK. EC President announced Brexit Deal
The Brexit Trade Deal at the European Parliament
Conference of Presidents also decided to examine a proposal to slightly extend the period of provisional application. They will discuss it with the Council presidency and the European Commission. This extension will allow for a parliamentary ratification during the March plenary session.
The Committees on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, together with all associated committees, will now carefully examine the agreement. They will prepare Parliament’s eudebate in plenary in due time and before the end of the provisional application. In parallel, the political groups will prepare a draft resolution accompanying the consent vote.
The political groups’ leaders stressed Parliament’s will to monitor closely the implementation of the EU-UK agreement in all its details. They underlined that parliamentary cooperation is a key part of the future treaty between the EU and the UK. When the right time comes, Parliament will seek to establish contact with the UK Parliament to cooperate.
On a specific note, leaders regret the UK’s choice not to include Erasmus programme in the agreement.
We have finally found an agreement. A fair Brexit balanced deal
Commission President
