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 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

David SASSOLI, EP President made a declaration to the reporters on the Brexit agreement

Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on the Brexit agreement

Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK meeting with the EP Members of the steering group to up-date them on the latest outcome of the negociations.

Meeting of the EP Brexit Steering Group with Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK: arrivals and roundtable

Statements following the meeting of the EP Brexit Steering Group with Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK

EP Brexit Steering Group with Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK: statement following the meeting

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents meeting to analyse the latest Brexit negotiation developments.

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents: arrivals and roundtable

During the plenary session (9-10 October 2019) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the 17-18 October EU summit, the agenda of which includes the EU long-term budget, Brexit and follow-up to the UN Climate Action Summit. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, and Michel BARNIER, Chief Negotiator.

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019: extracts from the debate (1/2)

During the plenary session (9-10 October 2019) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the 17-18 October EU summit, the agenda of which includes the EU long-term budget, Brexit and follow-up to the UN Climate Action Summit. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO) and Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE).

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019: extracts from the debate (2/2)

On the occasion of his official visit to London,United Kingdom, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Boris JOHNSON, British Prime Minister. Arrival and handshake and statements by David SASSOLI, EP President.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to London, United Kingdom: meeting with Boris JOHNSON, British Prime Minister, arrival and handshake

The EP Brexit Steering Group with Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for the UK Exiting the EU, meets in the European Parliament in Brussels, following Boris JOHNSON's declaration in London. Arrivals and roundtable.

Meeting of the EP Brexit Steering Group in the presence of Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for the UK Exiting the EU: arrivals and roundtable

Statement by Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), EP coordinator for the Negotiations with the UK, following the meeting of the EP Brexit Steering Group, in the European Parliament in Brussels. In his sense, the proposal of the British government is not sustainable.

Meeting of the EP Brexit Steering Group: statement by Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), EP coordinator for the Negotiations with the UK

During the plenary session (16-19 September 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss the current state of play of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU with Brexit chief negotiator Michel BARNIER, followed by a vote on a resolution. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, and Michel BARNIER, EU's chief Brexit negotiator.

UK’s withdrawal from the EU: extracts from the opening statements

During the plenary session (16-19 September 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss the current state of play of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU with Brexit chief negotiator Michel BARNIER, followed by a vote on a resolution. Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (ECR, UK) and Martina ANDERSON (GUE/NGL, UK).

UK’s withdrawal from the EU: extracts from the debate

Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, speaks to the press on the Brexit Resolution, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Press conference by Guy VERHOFSTADT (RE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, on the Brexit Resolution

During the plenary session (16-19 September 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on a resolution on the current state of play of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Statements by Barbara Ann GIBSON (RE, UK), Michael HEAVER (NI, UK), and Seán KELLY (EPP, IE).

UK’s withdrawal from the EU: extracts from the vote

The EP’s President and political groups’ leaders (the Conference of Presidents) discuss with Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK on the state of play in the Brexit process, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Arrivals and roundtable.

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents with the participation of Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK on the state of play in the Brexit process: arrivals and roundtable

The EP Brexit Steering Group, with the presence of Michel BARNIER, EU's Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union, meets in the European Parliament in Brussels. Arrivals and roundtable.

Meeting of the EP Brexit Steering Group: arrivals and roundtable

Following the European elections 2019 (23-26 May), an update of the EP results projection is published. Update of the national estimates for the United Kingdom.

European Elections 2019 - Update EP results projection: announcement of national estimates for the United Kingdom

During the European elections (23-26 May 2019), Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK), Group leader of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group (EFDD), votes at a polling station in Biggin Hill / Bromley, UK and talks to the press.

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