The European Parliament Ratification of Withdrawal Agreement: What You Need to Know
On January 31, 2020, at 11 pm, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union. Since then, both parties have been in a period of transition, as they work out the terms of their future relationship. However, one of the major milestones in this process was the European Parliament’s ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement on January 29, 2020.
What is the Withdrawal Agreement?
The Withdrawal Agreement is essentially the divorce settlement between the UK and the EU. It covers a range of issues, such as citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, and the implementation period. It also provides an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol, which aims to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Why was ratification important?
The ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement by the European Parliament was a crucial step in the Brexit process. It was necessary for the UK to leave the EU in an orderly fashion. Without the ratification, there would have been no legal basis for the implementation period, during which the UK and the EU will negotiate their future relationship.
What were the key issues in the ratification process?
The ratification process was not without its challenges. One of the main issues was the Northern Ireland Protocol. Many MEPs were concerned that it could lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which could threaten the Good Friday Agreement. However, the UK and the EU came to an agreement on the Protocol, which satisfied the MEPs.
Another issue was the question of citizens’ rights. The Withdrawal Agreement guarantees the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU. However, some MEPs were concerned that the implementation of these rights would not be smooth. The UK and the EU have since set up a monitoring system to ensure that citizens’ rights are protected.
What happens next?
The ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement was an important milestone, but it is just the beginning of the Brexit process. The UK and the EU will now enter a period of negotiations to determine their future relationship. This will cover everything from trade and security to fisheries and data protection.
The negotiations will be complex and challenging, but both sides have expressed their commitment to finding a mutually beneficial solution. The UK has already stated that it does not intend to extend the implementation period beyond December 2020, so the negotiations will need to be concluded swiftly.
In conclusion, the European Parliament’s ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement was a vital step in the Brexit process. It provided the legal basis for the implementation period and set out the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU. However, there is still a long way to go before the UK and the EU can agree on their future relationship. The negotiations will be difficult, but both sides are determined to find a way forward.
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