Brexit, the end of 47 years of the European Union’s membership

The Brexit referendum

The majority (51.89%) of UK’s voters, in the Brexit referendum, chose to leave EU.

There were 33.551.983 voters. 72% of the UK citizens.
17.410.742 people chose to leave EU against 16.141.241.

In both Scotland and Northern Ireland, 62% and 56% respectively of the population voted to stay in the EU.

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union

The UK started the exit negotiations, using the article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The UK got 2 years for it.

The first phase

Start of the first phase of negotiations between the EU and the UK.

A provisional agreement

The EU and the UK reach a provisional agreement on citizens’ rights and the financial settlement of Brexit.

Begin of the second phase

The 27 EU countries note that sufficient progress has been made in the first phase. This will allow the second phase of the negotiations to start. In this phase, the negotiations on the withdrawal agreement will be expanded with talks about a transition phase and an exploration of the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

The agreement on the transition phase

The EU and the UK reached a provisional agreement of the transition phase.
Until 31-12-2020 all of the EU rules will continue to apply.

Provisional agreements are being made for the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Salzburg Summit

At the Salzburg Summit, the leaders of the 27 member states unanimously decided that a withdrawal agreement with the United Kingdom is not possible without a strong, operational and legally binding solution for Ireland.

The draft of the Brexit

Michel Barnier, chief Brexit negotiator, handed over the draft Brexit deal to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, after months of negotiations with the United Kingdom.

The draft Brexit agreement and the political declaration

Leaders of the 27 member states approved both the draft Brexit agreement and the political declaration on the future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom.

The draft Brexit agreement and the political declaration

Theresa May, the British Prime Minister wanted the European Union to postpone Brexit until June 30, 2019.

The postpone idea was remarkable because the British Parliament
rejected several times the agreement negotiated between Theresa May and the EU.

The official departure of the United Kingdom from the EU

On March 29, 2019 The United Kingdom should officially leave the EU.

The European elections

The UK was taking part in the European elections.

Brexit delay

The British Parliament passed a law requiring the British government to request a Brexit delay if no deal is reached with the EU by October 19th.

Brexit deal

The European Union and the United Kingdom had a Brexit deal. The British House of Commons and the European Parliament had yet to approve the deal.

A new postponement the Brexit date

A new postponement of the Brexit date is necessary because the British Parliament wanted to deal with the Brexit legislation before the Brexit agreement can be put to the vote.

The British government then asks the EU to postpone the Brexit date to January 31, 2020.

Postponement the Brexit date to January 31, 2020

The British Parliament agreed to discuss Brexit legislation. But parliament needed more time than the British Prime Minister has proposed.

As a result, the intended Brexit date of 31 October is no longer feasible for a withdrawal with agreement.
Until the Brexit legislation is approved in the British Parliament, there is no Brexit agreement.

The EU has agreed on a postponement until January 31, 2020

The EU had confirmed the postponement of the Brexit date until January 31, 2020, or earlier if the UK Parliament and the European Parliament have approved the Withdrawal Agreement.

Boris Johnson won the election

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won the election. As a result, a rapid approval of the Brexit agreement seems likely.

If the deal was approved by the British Parliament, the European Parliament could also vote on it in January 2020.

The Brexit deal

The British House of Commons approved the Brexit deal. The British House of Lords and the European Parliament still had to agree to the deal.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II signed the Brexit deal

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II signed the Brexit deal after the British House of Lords had approved the deal.

The European Parliament approved the Withdrawal Agreement

The European Parliament approved the Withdrawal Agreement.
This was the parliamentary final step in the process that makes Brexit possible.

The United Kingdom leaves the European Union

January 31, 2020 00:00 (UTC +1) the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

This was 3 years, 7 months and 8 days since the Brexit referendum.

The mandate for negotiations with the UK

European Affairs ministers endorsed the mandate for negotiations with the UK.

Start of EU-UK negotiations

Start of EU-UK negotiations on a new partnership agreement.

High-level meeting between the United Kingdom and the European institutions

High-level meeting between the United Kingdom and the European institutions. At that meeting, the end of the transitional period was definitively established on December 31, 2020.

Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Agreement reached between the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom. This agreement is referred to as the “Trade and Cooperation Agreement”.

The European Union and the United Kingdom signed the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The European Union and the United Kingdom signed the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Until 28 February 2021 the council the can review and ratify this agreement.

The European Union and the United Kingdom signed the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

End of the transition period and publication of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in the Official Journal of the European Union.

the new relationship between the EU and the UK

Start of the new relationship between the EU and the UK.

Provisional entry into force of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement concluded on 24 December 2020 between the European and UK negotiators.