Brexit took place at midnight on Friday, 1,317 days after the British decided to leave the European Union.
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Daily trade between the UK and the EU will continue as before until December 31, 2020. During this transitional period, London and Brussels will negotiate their future relationship. Some practical changes will however take place between now and then.
– 66 million fewer inhabitants –
The European Union loses a member state for the first time, which is also the second largest economy in the bloc.
With the departure of 66 million inhabitants, the EU sees its population increase to around 440 million. Its territory decreases by 5.5%.
If the UK ever decides to return, it will have to go through the usual membership procedure.
– The institutions –
In Brussels and Strasbourg, the withdrawal of the Union Jack from the European Parliament symbolizes a very real change: the United Kingdom leaves the EU and becomes a “third country”.
None of the 73 British MEPs elected in May are sitting. In their place, 27 representatives from 14 member states sit – the remaining seats being kept in reserve in the event of enlargement – in an assembly which goes from 751 to 705 members.
The British Prime Minister will no longer be invited to European summits, nor will members of the government attend ministerial meetings.
British people already working in the European institutions can end their careers there, but there are no longer any British civil servants hired and competitions are no longer open to them, even before the end of the transition period.
Many of these British European officials have, however, acquired dual nationality.
The United Kingdom remains subject to the EU Court of Justice, which has jurisdiction over all proceedings brought before the end of the transitional period. But the terms of the three British judges of the Court and the Tribunal expire immediately, while the Advocate General of this country will continue to sit pending his successor.
For the budget, the United Kingdom, the second largest contributor behind Germany, continues to pay its share until the end of the transition.
– Citizens’ rights –
According to the United Nations, around 1.2 million British citizens live in an EU country, mainly in Spain, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy.
According to the British statistics office, 2.9 million nationals from the 27 EU countries live in the United Kingdom, or 4.6% of the population.
Under the Withdrawal Agreement, expatriates who settle on either side of the Channel before the end of the transition period retain their rights to reside and work in their host country.
European citizens residing in the United Kingdom must register to benefit from these rights. For Britons living in the EU, the procedures differ from country to country.
Freedom of movement applies until the end of December 2020. Details of reciprocal rights will be negotiated after Brexit.
– The negotiations –
The UK has already spent several years negotiating the terms of its departure with the European Commission team led by Frenchman Michel Barnier.
But negotiations are now entering a new phase. Michel Barnier presented his negotiating mandate for the future relationship on Monday, in particular at the commercial level.
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