The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Revised: What You Need to Know

After years of negotiations and political turmoil, a revised version of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement has been negotiated and agreed upon between the United Kingdom and the European Union. This long-awaited agreement outlines the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU and sets out a framework for future relations. Here`s what you need to know about the revised agreement.

What is the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement?

The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is a legal framework that sets out the terms of the UK`s departure from the European Union. It covers issues such as trade, immigration, and the status of UK and EU citizens living in each other`s territories. The original agreement was negotiated by former Prime Minister Theresa May`s government and was rejected by the UK parliament three times, leading to delays and uncertainty.

What has changed in the revised agreement?

The revised agreement was negotiated by Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s government and addresses some of the previous agreement`s contentious issues. One of the most significant changes is the removal of the “backstop,” a clause that aimed to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (part of the EU). This was a major sticking point in the previous agreement, as it would have kept the UK closely aligned with the EU`s customs rules and regulations.

In the revised agreement, Northern Ireland will remain in the UK customs territory but will also be subject to some EU rules to avoid a hard border. There will be customs checks and declarations on goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, but these will take place at ports and airports rather than on the land border with the Republic of Ireland.

Other changes in the revised agreement include a transition period until at least the end of 2020, during which time the UK will continue to follow EU rules and regulations. There will also be a mechanism for the UK to diverge from EU rules in the future, but this will require agreement and consultation with the EU.

What are the next steps?

The revised agreement still needs to be approved by the UK parliament and the European Parliament before it can come into effect. This is likely to be a complex and contentious process, with many MPs and MEPs still opposed to the agreement. If the agreement is approved, the UK will officially leave the EU on January 31, 2020, but the relationship between the two sides will continue to be governed by the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement until the end of the transition period.

In conclusion, the revised Brexit Withdrawal Agreement aims to provide a framework for the UK`s departure from the EU while minimizing disruption and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. However, it is still a subject of considerable debate and uncertainty, and the future relationship between the UK and the EU remains unclear. As always, it is important to stay informed and up-to-date on developments as they unfold.