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

Atmosphere shots of polling station in London (United Kingdom), during the European elections (23-26 May 2019).

European Elections 2019: atmosphere shots of polling station in London

Footage of polling stations for the European elections in The Hague (The Netherlands) and London (UK). Dutch and Brisith citizens voting. Outdoor views of The Hague and London.

European Elections 2019 - Polling stations in The Hague (The Netherlands) and London (UK): atmosphere shots

During the plenary session (3-4 April 2019) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

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

During the meeting of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) in Brussels, Members receive Michel BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK, for an exchange of views on the After Brexit - The EU's future relations with the United Kingdom.

After Brexit - The EU's future relations with the United Kingdom: extracts from the opening statement by Michel BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate UK’s withdrawal from the EU after the outcome of the vote on Brexit in the UK House of Commons. Extracts from the closing statement by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Right.

UK’s withdrawal from the EU: extracts from the closing statement by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights

During the EP Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU and Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL), Chair of AFCO and Member of the Parliament's Brexit Steering Group, participate in an exchange of views on the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union – state of play.

The withdrawal of the UK from the European Union – state of play : extracts from the exchange of views with Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU and with Danuta HÜBNER (EPP, PL)

During the plenary session (11-14 February 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on common rules ensuring basic road freight connectivity with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Union - Report: Isabella DE MONTE (A8-0063/2019). The results are 601 in total, 578 in favour, 5 against, and 18 abstentions.

Common rules ensuring basic road freight connectivity with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Union: extract from the vote

During the plenary session (11-14 February 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on common rules ensuring basic air connectivity with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Union - Report: Pavel TELIČKA (A8-0062/2019) and on aviation safety with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland from the Union - Report: Kosma ZŁOTOWSKI (A8-0061/2019). For the common rules ensuring basic air connectivity, the results are: 611 in total, 576 in favour, 4 against and 28 abstentions. For the aviation safety, the results are: 611 in total, in 603 in favour, 3 against, and 5 abstentions.

Common rules ensuring basic air connectivity and aviation safety with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Union: extracts from the votes

The Brexit Steering group meets today in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements are given by Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK, and Guy VERHOFSTADT, Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU.

Meeting of the EP Brexit Steering group: arrivals, roundtable and statements by Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK, and Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE)

Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK, and Guy VERHOFSTADT, Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, make a statement following the meeting with the EP Brexit Steering group, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Meeting of the EP Brexit Steering group: statements by Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK, and Guy VERHOFSTADT, Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, following meeting

This infoclip illustrates views of Calais, Port of Dover, Eurotunnel of in the framework of the Brexit.

Infoclip: Brexit - transport: views of Calais, Port of Dover, Eurotunnel

This infoclip illustrates UK pensioners living in Spain whose lives could be affected by the Brexit.

Infoclip: Brexit - UK pensioners living in Spain

This infoclip illustrates a family organising dual citizenship for its members. Two teenagers are applying for British citizenship and the mother recently received her Swedish citizenship next to her British nationality.

Infoclip: Brexit - EU-UK citizenship

This infoclip shows views of Derry, of today's non-existent border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and views of Belfast such as Foyle Bridge, Derry, passage between Ireland and Northen Ireland.

Infoclip: Brexit - Ireland

The Audiovisual service of the European Parliament has prepared an infoclip giving examples of EU citizens working in the UK on long term or temporary, seasonal bases.

Infoclip: Brexit - examples of European citizens working in the UK

This infoclip shows views of London: home office and job centre.

Infoclip: Brexit - London views and Home Office views

Infoclip: Brexit - Ireland (up-dated version)

Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE,BE), Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, gives a press conference following the Brexit Steering Group meeting with the 3 million EU citizens living in the UK representatives.

Press point by Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, following the Brexit Steering Group meeting with the 3 million representatives and Home Office officials

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