On 29 March 2017, Theresa MAY, British Prime Minister, triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The right of a Member State to withdraw from the European Union was introduced for the first time with the Lisbon Treaty; the possibility of withdrawal was highly controversial before that. The Article 50 provides for the negotiation of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the withdrawing state, defining in particular the latter's future relationship with the Union. If no agreement is concluded within two years, that state's membership ends automatically, unless the European Council and the Member State concerned decide jointly to extend this period.

See also our previous package on <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/brexit-8th-parliamentary-term_1603_pk">Brexit</a>.

Brexit

MEPs and UK MPs met&nbsp;in Brussels on 3 and 4 July for the third EU-United Kingdom Parliamentary Partnership Assembly to discuss, among other issues, the state of play within the Partnership Council, EU-UK common efforts to support Ukraine, and cooperation on trade and industrial policy - including responses to the US Inflation Reduction Act.&nbsp;

EU-UK relations are changed&nbsp;following Brexit and the deal reached at the end of 2020. The United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020, after 47 years of EU membership. The UK has lost all the rights and benefits it had as an EU Member State and is no longer a part of the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union.

The EU-UK withdrawal agreement in force since 1 February 2020, ensured that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU happened in an orderly manner, and protects the rights of EU citizens and UK nationals, the EU’s financial interests, and peace and stability on the island of Ireland.

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK sets out preferential arrangements in areas such as trade in goods and in services, digital trade, intellectual property, public procurement, aviation and road transport, energy, fisheries, social security coordination, law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, thematic cooperation and participation in Union programmes.&nbsp; In April 2021 the European Parliament voted with a large majority in favour of granting also its consent to the agreement.

EU - UK relations

This package contains the events of 2020. For latest events, see related links.

The UK leaving the EU is not the end of cooperation. Discussions start to determine how the two will work together. Based on the European Commission’s draft negotiating directives, which were presented by EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday 3 February, the resolution will provide the Parliament’s initial input to the upcoming negotiations with the British government on a new partnership after Brexit.

The transition period starting on 1 February is set to expire at the end of December 2020. Any agreement on the future EU-UK relationship will have to be fully concluded before that point if it is to come into force on 1 January 2021. The transition period can be extended once for one to two years, but the decision to do so must be taken by the EU-UK Joint Committee before 1 July 2020. Parliament will have to approve any future relationship agreement. If such an agreement refers to competences that the EU shares with member states, then national parliaments will also need to ratify it.

EU - UK relations (2020)

EU27 leaders will meet on 10 April 2019 to discuss the latest developments on Brexit.

"In view of the rejection of the withdrawal agreement by the House of Commons, I have decided to call a European Council on 10 April," confirmed President Donald Tusk on 29 March, following the vote in the House of Commons. On 21 March EU27 leaders decided to delay the Brexit date until 12 April 2019, should the withdrawal agreement be rejected.

Special meeting of the European Council on article 50, 10/04/2019

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK - Arrivals

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents with Michel BARNIER, EU Chief Negotiator and the European Commission’s Head of Taskforce for relations with the UK

Meeting of the EU-UK Coordination group- Interview with David McALLISTER, Chair of the EP-UK coordination group

Meeting of the EU-UK Coordination group

Brexit - Farewell ceremony for departing British MEPs

Representatives of the European Commission's Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom discuss the analysis of the EU-UK agreement and debrief on the EU-UK Agreement on future relationship with the UK, in the European Parliament, in Brussels. They also discuss the conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part. Statements by Pierre KARLESKIND (RE, FR), Chair of the Committee on Fisheries (PECH), Charlina VITCHEVA, Director General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission, Leon DELVAUX, Director-General for Trade, European Commission, and Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU).

EU-UK agreement: debriefing on the EU-UK Agreement on future relationship with the UK and conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (14-18 December 2020), MEPs debate future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. MEPs debate (part 2)

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 2)

During the plenary session (14-18/12) of the European Parliament, mainly in Brussels, MEPs debate the future relations between the European Union and the United Kindgom. Extracts from the debate.

Future relations between the EU and the UK: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (14-18 December 2020), MEPs debate future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. MEPs debate (part 3)

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 3)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (14-18 December 2020), MEPs debate future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. Ambiance shots in the hemicycle before the debate.

Future relations between the EU and the UK: ambiance shots prior to the plenary

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (14-18 December 2020), MEPs debate future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Future relations between the EU and the UK: closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (14-18 December 2020), MEPs debate future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. MEPs debate (part 1.2)

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 1.2)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (14-18 December 2020), MEPs debate future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. MEPs debate (part 1.1)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Videos

EU-UK agreement: debriefing on the EU-UK Agreement on future relationship with the UK and conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 2)

Future relations between the EU and the UK: extracts from the debate

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 3)

Future relations between the EU and the UK: ambiance shots prior to the plenary

Future relations between the EU and the UK: closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 1.2)

Future relations between the EU and the UK: MEPs debate (part 1.1)

Photos

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

Photosets

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK - Arrivals

EP plenary session - Future Relations between the EU and the UK

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents with Michel BARNIER, EU Chief Negotiator and the European Commission’s Head of Taskforce for relations with the UK

Meeting of the EU-UK Coordination group- Interview with David McALLISTER, Chair of the EP-UK coordination group

Meeting of the EU-UK Coordination group

Brexit - Farewell ceremony for departing British MEPs

Topics

Brexit

EU - UK relations

EU - UK relations (2020)

Special meeting of the European Council on article 50, 10/04/2019

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