Until the UK withdraws from the EU, all rights and obligations deriving from EU membership continue to apply in the UK.

 
The United Kingdom (UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK is not a member of the Schengen Area. There are 73 members of the European Parliament from the UK.

EU - United Kingdom

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

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

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.

Brexit - 8th Parliamentary term

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)

MEPs, together with Commission and Council representatives, debate the preparations for the first EU-UK summit on British soil since Brexit.

EU and UK leaders will meet in London on 19 May for the first institutional bilateral gathering in Britain since the UK left the EU in 2020. Among other topics, they will discuss defence cooperation, opportunities for young people, and trade issues – the latter in the wake of the new US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on trade partners. 

In particular, this includes a potential EU-UK security pact that could see the UK participate in the EU’s joint arms procurement scheme. Leaders will review the possibility of a youth mobility scheme to facilitate freedom of movement for young people aged 18-30, as well as efforts to eliminate sanitary and phytosanitary checks (SPS) on certain products that are exported from the UK to the EU, in particular those entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Preparation of EU-UK summit

EP Plenary session - The United Kingdom accession to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters

AFET INTA - EU-UK Summit debriefing

EP Plenary session - Preparation of EU-UK summit

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with SOPHIE, Duchess of Edinburgh

5th EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly - Press point

5th EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

Conference Enhancing Public Participation: The Role of Parliaments in Public Engagement and Outreach - Key Lessons for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

ENVI Committee - Exchange of views with Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency

EPRS - Book talk ' On Leadership ' featuring Tony Blair

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Tony BLAIR, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute of Global Change

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Nick THOMAS-SYMONDS, British Minister for the constitution and European Union relations

Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly Constitutive meeting

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Keir STARMER, British Prime Minister

3rd EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.- Press point

3rd EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with James CLEVERLY, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom

David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of the European Parliament's UK Coordination Group (UKCG), Kati PIRI (S&D, NL) and Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), co-rapporteurs, speak after the meeting on the recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: views during the meeting and vote and statements

David SASSOLI, EP President and political groups’ leaders meet with Michel BARNIER, Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom to discuss the latest developments in the talks with UK, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents with the participation of Michel BARNIER, Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom: extracts the meeting

David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Sadiq KHAN, Mayor of London, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Arrival welcome by David SASSOLI, EP President, and roundtable.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Sadiq KHAN, Mayor of London: arrival and roundtable

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. One round of political group speakers.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Round of political group speakers (9.18 - 9.35)

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Closing statement by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency of the Council.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Closing statement by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency of the Council (10.56 - 10.58)

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. General atmosphere and arrivals.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: General atmosphere and arrivals (8.58 - 9.07)

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian presidency of the Council and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Opening statements Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian presidency of the Council and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC (9.07 - 9.18)

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. MEPs debate part two of two.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: MEPs debate 2/2 and catch the eye (10.05 - 10.37)

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. MEPs debate part one of two.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: MEPs debate 1/2 (9.35 - 10.05)

Live replay. During the plenary session (10-14 February 2020) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg the MEPs debated the Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Closing statement by Michel BARNIER, European Commission’s Chief Negotiator, on the draft negotiating directives for the future relationship negotiations with the United Kingdom.

Proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Closing statement by Michel BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator, on the draft negotiating directives (10.37 - 10.56)

During the plenary session (13-16 January 2020), in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Nikolina BRNJAC, President in office of the Croatian Presidency of the Council and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, make a statement during the debate on the implementing and monitoring provisions on citizens’ rights in the UK withdrawal Agreement.

Implementing and monitoring provisions on citizens’ rights in the UK withdrawal Agreement: opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, President in office of the Croatian Presidency of the Council and by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC

During the plenary session (13-16 January 2020), in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the implementing and monitoring provisions on citizens’ rights in the UK withdrawal Agreement.

Implementing and monitoring provisions on citizens’ rights in the UK withdrawal Agreement: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (13-16 January 2020), in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for the UK Exiting the EU and Nikolina BRNJAC, President in office of the Council of the EU make the closing statements after the debate on the implementing and monitoring provisions on citizens’ rights in the UK Withdrawal Agreement.

Implementing and monitoring provisions on citizens’ rights in the UK Withdrawal Agreement: closing statement by Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for the UK Exiting the EU, and Nikolina BRNJAC, President in office of the Council of the EU

In the margins of the European Council meeting on 12-13 December in Brussels, MEPs make a statement on the outcome of the UK elections. The Conservatives won the general election with 364 seats. Ska KELLER, Co-President of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group at the European Parliament gives her view on the electoral results.

European Council: statement by Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE) following the UK elections results

Following vote in Westminster, David SASSOLI, EP President gives a statement on Brexit, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Brexit: statement by David SASSOLI, EP President, following vote in Westminster

The EP Conference of Presidents meets to discuss on the state of play of the UK withdrawal from the EU, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Extraordinary meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents on State of play of the UK withdrawal from the EU: statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Guy VERHOFSTADT, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, Dacian CIOLOŞ and Pedro SILVA PEREIRA make a statement after the extraordinary meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents on State of play of the UK withdrawal from the EU, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Extraordinary meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents on State of play of the UK withdrawal from the EU: MEPs statements

David SASSOLI, the EP President opens the plenary session (21-24/10/2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, speaking about on Laura Codruţa Kövesi’s appointment as the first head of the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office and on Brexit's state of play.

Opening remarks by David SASSOLI, EP President: extracts of his statement on Laura Codruţa Kövesi’s appointment as the first head of the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office and on Brexit's state of play

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