What Is Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

Brexit Withdrawal Agreement: What You Need to Know

Brexit, the UK`s exit from the European Union (EU), has been a hot topic since the referendum in 2016. After years of negotiations, the UK government and EU officials reached a withdrawal agreement in November 2018. The agreement has been debated heavily in the UK parliament, and a vote will finally be held on January 15th. But what exactly is the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement?

In simple terms, the agreement is a legal document that outlines the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU. It covers a wide range of issues, including citizens` rights, the financial settlement, and the „backstop” for the Irish border.

Citizens` Rights:

The agreement guarantees the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU. They will be able to continue living, studying, and working as before. However, they will need to apply for a new status to confirm their rights. The agreement also includes provisions for family members and provides a mechanism for people to complain if their rights are not respected.

Financial Settlement:

The UK will pay a „divorce bill” to settle its financial obligations to the EU. The exact amount has not been finalized, but it is estimated to be around £39 billion. This covers things like outstanding EU budget payments, pensions for EU officials, and other liabilities.

Irish Border:

The issue of the Irish border has been one of the most contentious in the Brexit negotiations. The agreement includes a „backstop” that would come into effect if a future trade deal does not prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (an EU member state). The backstop would see the whole of the UK remain in a customs union with the EU, with Northern Ireland also aligned with some EU single market rules. This has been the main sticking point for many Brexit supporters, who fear that it would leave the UK too closely tied to the EU.

The Withdrawal Agreement is just the first step in the Brexit process. If it is approved by the UK parliament, negotiations will begin on a future trade deal between the UK and the EU. This could take years to finalize and is likely to be just as controversial as the Withdrawal Agreement.

In summary, the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is a complex document that covers a range of issues related to the UK`s departure from the EU. It guarantees the rights of citizens, settles the UK`s financial obligations, and includes a backstop for the Irish border. The agreement has been hotly debated in the UK parliament and will continue to be a topic of discussion in the coming months and years.