On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union. We lost a member of our family. It was a sad moment for us, for European citizens – and, indeed, for many British citizens.
Nevertheless, we have always respected the sovereign decision of 52 percent of the British electorate, and we now look forward to starting a new chapter in our relations.
Emotions aside, February 1 turned out to be historic but also undramatic. This is largely thanks to the Withdrawal Agreement that we negotiated with the U.K., which enabled us to secure ‘an orderly Brexit’. One that – at least for now – minimizes disruption for our citizens, businesses, public administrations – as well as for our international partners.
Under this agreement, the E.U. and the U.K. agreed on a transition period, until the end of 2020 at least, during which the U.K. will continue to participate in the E.U.’s Customs Union and Single Market, and to apply E.U. law, even if it is no longer a member state. During this period, the U.K. will also continue to abide by the international agreements of the E.U., as we made clear in a ‘note verbale’ to our international partners.
So, with the transition period in place, there is a degree of continuity. This was not easy given the magnitude of the task. By leaving the union, the U.K. automatically, mechanically, legally, leaves hundreds of international agreements concluded by or on behalf of the union, to the benefit of its member states, on topics as different as trade, aviation, fisheries or civil nuclear cooperation.
We now have to build a new partnership between the E.U. and the U.K. That work will start in a few weeks, as soon as the EU27 have approved the negotiating mandate proposed by the European Commission, setting out our terms and ambitions for achieving the closest possible partnership with a country which will remain our ally, our partner and our friend.
The E.U. and the U.K. are bound by history, geography, culture, shared values and principles, and a strong belief in rules-based multilateralism. Our future partnership will reflect these links and shared beliefs. We want to go well beyond trade and keep working together on security and defense, areas where the U.K. has experiences and assets that are best used as part of a common effort. In a world of big challenges and change, of turmoil and transition, we must consult each other and cooperate, bilaterally and in key regional and global fora, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, or the G20.
It is perhaps a cliché but the basic truth is that today’s global challenges – from climate change to cybercrime, terrorism or inequality – require collective responses. The more the U.K. is able to work in lockstep with the E.U. and together with partners around the world, the greater our chances of addressing these challenges effectively.
At the very core of the E.U. project is the idea that we are stronger together; that pooling our resources and initiatives is the best way of achieving common goals. Brexit does not change this, and we will continue to take this project forward as 27.
Together, the 27 member states will continue to form a single market of 450 million citizens and more than 20 million businesses.
Together, we remain the largest trading bloc in the world.
Together, at 27, we are still the world’s largest development aid donor.
Our partners can be sure that we will stay true to an ambitious, outward-looking agenda – be it on trade and investment, on climate action and digital, on connectivity, on security and counter-terrorism, on human rights and democracy, or on defense and foreign policy.
We will continue to live up to our commitments. We will continue to stand by the agreements that link us to our international partners, such as our development partnership with Liberia under the National Indicative Programme 2014-2020, as well as our trade partners under the “Everything But Arms” scheme which grants full duty-free and quota-free access to the E.U. Single Market for Liberia and our Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement. We will also continue to develop multilateral cooperation frameworks around the world.
The European Union will continue to be a partner you can trust. A steadfast defender of rules-based multilateralism, working with our partners to make the world more secure and fair.
Featured photo courtesy of www.pixabay.com
