The European Union and the UK have reached a historic agreement on post-Brexit trade.
It will come into effect on January 1st, 2021 after the transition period ends.
Here are the key points we know so far – but the 500 pages of the deal have yet to be published.
Fishing
The UK gave ground on fisheries, British prime minister Boris Johnson admitted, but said that as a result of the deal the country will be “an independent coastal state with full control of our waters” and would see its share of UK fish rising “substantially”.
Tariffs
The deal is worth €742 billion a year and will enable British goods to be sold without tariffs or quotas in the EU market – allowing UK companies to do even more business with the continent, Mr Johnson suggested.
Level playing field
Brussels said the agreement included binding enforcement and dispute settlement mechanisms which will “ensure that rights of businesses, consumers and individuals are respected”, though Mr Johnson suggested the EU had made concessions on this area.
Laws
Mr Johnson said that after January 1st, British laws “will be made solely by the British Parliament interpreted by British judges sitting in UK courts and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice will come to an end”.
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.
Europe is now moving on. https://t.co/77jrNknlu3— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 24, 2020
Transport
The agreement provides for “continued and sustainable air, road, rail and maritime connectivity”, the European Commission said, with provisions to ensure passenger rights and transport safety are not undermined.
Security
Mr Johnson said he was “absolutely confident” the deal would protect police co-operation, the ability to catch criminals and to share intelligence across the European continent “in the way that we have done for many years”.
The full text of the new UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is coming soon, but meanwhile do read this Explainer, which sets out what we agreed today and how the new Treaty works. pic.twitter.com/GKjU8qXVWy
— David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) December 24, 2020
Students
Mr Johnson said the Erasmus student exchange programme – which had seen participants able to study across Europe – would be replaced in the UK by a worldwide scheme named after the scientist Alan Turing.
Preparations
People and businesses must still prepare for the end of the transition period, Mr Johnson stressed, though said there were “all sorts of things” in the agreement to make sure “things flow as smoothly as we possibly can” at the borders.
