CDE NewsBrexit Link

The UK left the EU at midnight CET (23.00 GMT) on 31 January 2020. A transition period is now in place until 31 December 2020. During this period all EU rules and laws will continue to apply to the UK. Virtually nothing will change for businesses or for the public. This will give everyone more time to prepare for the new agreements that the EU and the UK intend to make after 31 December 2020.

On 17 October 2019 the UK and the EU reached an agreement on the conditions for the UK’s departure from the EU (Brexit), and on a transition period until 31 December 2020. The transition period will not be extended. The UK has said that it does not want an extension. The option of an extension was contained in the withdrawal agreement. The UK and the EU had until 1 July 2020 to agree on a possible extension.

Both sides are now eyeing October’s European Council meeting as a de facto deadline, to allow time to pin the deal down before the transition period ends at 11 p.m. U.K. time on December 31.

During the transition period the UK and the EU are continuing to negotiate their new relationship. This includes agreeing on how companies in the EU will be able to do business in and with the UK after the transition period. They will also negotiate on security cooperation.

The new relationship will only become clear when the negotiations are complete, at the end of the transition period. The new agreements will enter into force after the transition period, which will end on 31 December 2020. The EU countries must first approve these new agreements. If the UK and the EU are unable to reach agreement, there will be a ‘no deal’ Brexit. This will happen at the end of the transition period.

Ci Consulta’s Communiq.EU is following closely the developments on BREXIT.

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Efforts towards last minute deal shape Brexit talks

23rd October 2020

Britain and the European Union have made good progress in talks on a last-minute trade deal that would stave off a tumultuous finale to the five-year-old Brexit crisis, but fish is the biggest sticking point. The United Kingdom left the EU in January but the two sides are trying to clinch a deal that would govern nearly a trillion dollars in annual trade before informal membership - known as t...

The 10 ‘Organising Principles’ underpinning relaunched UK-EU talks

22nd October 2020

Britain and the European Union have agreed to resume talks on reaching a trade deal to govern their future relations, setting out a new set of “organising principles” for intensified talks to begin on Thursday. The principles, as set out in a British government statement, are: 1. The parties have agreed to intensify negotiations. Talks will take place across all negotiating tables concurren...

Ireland will be eurozone’s biggest loser from a no-deal Brexit, says Irish central bank chief

22nd October 2020

Irish central bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf warned that Ireland will be the eurozone's biggest loser from a no-deal Brexit, which could cause an economic "double whammy" in addition to the fallout from rising novel coronavirus infections, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. If the UK exits the European Union without a trade deal by the year-end, the new tariffs on goods would hit Irelan...

Norway, Britain in provisional trade agreement for no-deal Brexit scenario

22nd October 2020

Norway and Britain have signed a temporary, limited agreement to help maintain trade in goods in case there is no final Brexit trade deal in place by year-end, the Norwegian Industry ministry said on Wednesday. Talks to put in a place a permanent, comprehensive free trade agreement were still ongoing, the ministry added. "Norway and Britain realise it is unrealistic to have a deal in place ...

UPDATE – UK – EU talks on post-Brexit trade deal to resume

21st October 2020

Britain will resume talks with the European Union on Thursday, marking a new push by the two sides to protect billions of dollars worth of trade from the beginning of next year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson walked away from the negotiations late last week after British officials criticised conclusions from an EU summit which they said suggested only London should compromise to try to secure a ...

UPDATED: EU’s Barnier says trade deal with UK “within reach”

21st October 2020

The European Union's Brexit negotiator said on Wednesday that a new trade deal with Britain was "within reach" if both sides work hard to overcome the sticking points in the coming days. "An agreement is within reach if both sides are willing to work constructively, compromise and working to make progress on the basis of legal texts and if we are able in the coming days to resolve the sticking...

Merkel ally says chances of Brexit trade deal less than 50-50

21st October 2020

There is less than a 50% chance of the European Union and Britain securing a Brexit trade deal and London must move first before negotiations can progress, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday. Detlef Seif, who is Brexit rapporteur for the Merkel’s conservatives in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, said that if Britain moved on fair competition and dispute resoluti...

UK halts Brexit talks despite encouraging meeting hours earlier

20th October 2020

Britain said it saw no basis to resume trade talks with the European Union unless there is a fundamental change in approach from Brussels, chief negotiator David Frost said on Monday, dashing earlier optimism that negotiations could resume. This statement came just a few moments after Michael Gove, the minister overseeing Brexit, had said there was agreement on the need to intensify trade talk...

UK’s Anglican archbishops issue Internal Markets Bill warning

19th October 2020

The UK's five Anglican archbishops have warned the government that its new Brexit bill could set a "disastrous precedent", in a rare joint letter. The Internal Markets Bill could damage the relationship between the UK's four nations, the five, including Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, write in the Financial Times. It comes as peers are due to have their first say on the legislation. ...

UK should tweak financial rules to stay competitive after Brexit, says study

19th October 2020

Britain should tweak financial rules after full Brexit to keep London's financial hub competitive and deepen ties with growth markets in Asia, a think tank said in a study on Monday. Britain accounted for nearly a third of financial activity in the European Union, which it left last January, and will no longer have to comply with its rules after Dec. 31. New Financial said in its study "Bey...

EU, UK Brexit negotiators to discuss later today continuation of trade talks

19th October 2020

EU and UK Brexit negotiators, Michel Barnier and David Frost, will discuss continuing trade talks over the phone around 1300 GMT on Monday, a spokesman for the former said. Britain said on Friday there was no point holding more talks on a new EU-UK trade pact from 2021 unless the bloc fundamentally changes its position. Barnier and Frost are to discuss on Monday when and how to restart the tro...

Britain tells businesses to step up plans for no-deal EU exit

19th October 2020

Britain is urging businesses to step up preparations for a no-deal exit from the European Union when transitional arrangements end, telling them in a campaign that "time is running out". Talks between Britain and the EU on a trade deal ended in recrimination last week, with both sides saying the other needed to compromise. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday there was no poi...

Swiss tighten measures to combat COVID-19 second wave

19th October 2020

Switzerland announced tighter restrictions on Sunday to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus hitting the country, including a nation-wide obligation to wear masks and a ban on large scale public gatherings. Gatherings of more than 15 people in public places will be banned from Monday and masks must be worn in all indoor public places, the government announced following an extraordinary me...

Britain and EU to try to rescue post-Brexit trade talks

19th October 2020

Britain and the European Union will on Monday attempt to breathe life into post-Brexit trade talks that appeared all but dead last week, with each side telling the other it needed to fundamentally change course. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday there was no point in continuing talks and it was time to prepare for a 'no-deal' exit when transitional arrangements end on Dec. 31...

‘Ball is in EU’s court’ as chance of Brexit deal recedes – Gove

18th October 2020

Senior British minister Michael Gove said the chance of striking a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union had fallen because the bloc had not been willing to intensify talks or produce detailed legal texts. Asked by Sky News if EU negotiator Michel Barnier should come to London this week, Gove said the "ball was in his court". He said both sides needed to compromise to reach a deal,...

Gove says UK ‘well prepared’ for no-deal Brexit, even as businesses sound alarm

18th October 2020

Michael Gove, the minister handling Brexit divorce issues for Britain, said on Sunday that the UK is "increasingly well-prepared" for a no-deal Brexit even as businesses urged Britain and the European Union to find a compromise over trade terms. A tumultuous "no deal" finale to the United Kingdom's five-year Brexit crisis would sow chaos through the delicate supply chains that stretch across B...

UK abandons Brexit free trade deal – Johnson

16th October 2020

Boris Johnson says it's time to "get ready" for the prospect of no free trade deal with the EU on 1 January. The prime minister claimed Brussels had "abandoned" the ambition but insisted "we always knew there would be changes" next year once the Brexit transition period ends. A tumultuous "no deal" finale to the United Kingdom's five-year Brexit crisis would sow chaos th...

UPDATED: UK PM Johnson says: it’s time to prepare for a no-trade deal Brexit

16th October 2020

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday it was now time to prepare for a no-trade deal Brexit as the European Union had refused to negotiate seriously and that unless Brussels changed course there would not be an agreement. A tumultuous "no deal" finale to the United Kingdom's five-year Brexit crisis would sow chaos through the delicate supply chains that stretch across Britain, the EU and...

Ireland says EU to continue seeking comprehensive and fair Brexit deal

16th October 2020

European Union countries want their chief negotiator Michel Barnier to continue seeking a comprehensive free trade deal on the bloc's future relationship with Britain, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said. At a meeting with EU countries on Wednesday, Barnier "was given the necessary flexibility to continue with the negotiations on behalf of the European Council to ensure a comprehensive, f...

Malta is ready for Brexit – PM

16th October 2020

Malta is well-prepared for Brexit, in whichever form it happens, PM Robert Abela said yesterday in the margins of the EU Summit. The Prime Minister explained that EU leaders were briefed about discussions that are taking place between the EU's Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and the UK, adding that the situation is still mired in uncertainty. Abela added that the leaders had agreed to keep ...

UPDATED: We want a post-Brexit trade deal but not at any price-Germany’s Roth

16th October 2020

The European Union wants a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain but not at any price, Germany's Europe Minister Michael Roth said on Friday. "We can't endanger the peace in the Northern Ireland, we need fair trading conditions that prevent dumping in consumer protection, the environment, in workers' rights," Roth told Deutschlandfunk radio. Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Fr...

Some movement on Brexit, Merkel says after EU summit talks

16th October 2020

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reported "some movement" on Thursday in talks between European Union leaders about an agreement with the United Kingdom on their post-Brexit relations. "In some places there was movement, in other places there is still a lot of work to do," she told reporters. "For us, it is important that Ireland can continue to live in peace, that we secure the single marke...

UK expresses disappointment at EU Summit Conclusions

15th October 2020

U.K. chief negotiator David Frost has expressed disappointment in his first reactions after the conclusions of the European Council on Brexit. In a tweet this afternoon, Frost said that he was: “Disappointed by the EUCO conclusions on UK/EU negotiations. Surprised EU is no longer committed to working “intensively” to reach a future partnership. “Also surprised by suggestion that ...

UK PM and chief negotiator to discuss whether talks with EU should continue or not

15th October 2020

Britain's chief negotiator David Frost will talk to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday about whether talks with the European Union should continue or not, said Sky News reporter Sam Coates. "David Frost set to talk to Boris Johnson today about whether talks should continue or there's no point and we should move to planning for no trade deal," said Coates on twitter. Meanwhile, R...

Goldman Sachs says there could be Brexit drama ahead and then a thin deal

15th October 2020

Goldman Sachs said on Thursday that there could be drama at the EU summit over Brexit but that a thin Brexit trade deal was likely to struck by early November. "Neither the UK Prime Minister’s 15 October deadline nor the European Commission’s 31 October deadline constitutes a hard stop on Brexit negotiations," Goldman analyst Sven Jari Stehn said in a note to clients. "This week’s European Cou...

Brexit talks at impasse on three key issues, EU diplomat says

15th October 2020

Talks between the European Union and the United Kingdom to reach a deal on their future relationship are still snagged on the three key issues of fishing, level playing field and governance of their agreement, an EU official said. “We want to be reassured on these three topics ... we see no movement on the other side of the Channel,” the official said, referring to Britain, adding that an agre...

UK PM Johnson tells EU he is ‘disappointed’ with Brexit deal progress

15th October 2020

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that he was disappointed there had not been more progress in Brexit trade talks, his office said on Wednesday. "The Prime Minister noted the desirability of a deal, but expressed his disappointment that more progress had not been made over the past two weeks," his office said in a statement, af...

EU watchdog works on “Plan B” to move euro clearing from London

14th October 2020

The European Union will have a "Plan B" that relocates clearing of euro-denominated derivatives from London to the bloc if it decides against long-term access for Britain, a top EU regulator said on Wednesday. The London Stock Exchange's LCH unit has been given EU permission, known as equivalence, to continue clearing derivatives for customers in the bloc for 18 months after Dec. 31, when Brit...

EU would prefer a Brexit deal but ready for no deal, says Commissioner Breton

14th October 2020

The European Union would prefer to have a Brexit deal, but it is ready in case no agreement can be reached, the Commissioner for the EU's single market, Thierry Breton, told BFM business radio on Tuesday. Britain, the world's sixth-biggest economy, left the EU in January and has since been locked in painstaking talks with the world's largest trading bloc to keep trade flowing freely. EU lea...

Merkel says EU will not let Ireland down over Brexit

14th October 2020

The European Union wants a Brexit trade deal with the United Kingdom and will not let Ireland down, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday. “We want an agreement: from the Irish point of view in particular it is extremely important,” Merkel said during a debate on the German presidency of the European Union at EU’s the Committee of the Regions. “We won’t let Ireland down but will c...

UK’s Johnson, EU’s Von der Leyen to discuss Brexit on Wednesday

14th October 2020

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will talk about the progress of the Brexit negotiations on Wednesday afternoon, Johnson's Downing Street office said. "They agreed to stay in touch on the progress in the negotiations when they spoke earlier this month," Downing Street said. The European Union demanded "substantive" movement ...

EU officials warn UK to stop trying to divide EU 27 over post-Brexit relationship

13th October 2020

Top EU officials warned the U.K. on Tuesday to stop trying to divide the EU27 in negotiations over a post-Brexit relationship, and said that Britain is running out of time to reach a deal. Germany's Europe Minister Michael Roth and Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič issued the warning to London after participating in a meeting to prepare for an EU leaders' summit in Brussels on Thurs...

Germany wants ‘substantive’ UK moves in ‘critical stage’ of Brexit talks

13th October 2020

Germany on Tuesday demanded "substantive" movement from Britain on fisheries, dispute settlement and fair competition guarantees in post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union, which it said were "at a very critical stage". Britain, home to the world's sixth-biggest economy, in January became the only country to leave the EU. It has since been locked in painstaking talks with the world's l...

EU watchdog to clarify share trading after full Brexit

13th October 2020

The European Union's securities regulator said it expects to make a statement soon on where shares listed in the bloc must be traded after Britain's full departure from the European Union in December. It was important for market participants to have clarity on where they can trade shares, Steven Maijoor, chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), told the European Parliamen...

Macron and EU leaders to insist on tough enforcement rules for any trade deal with Britain

12th October 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron and other EU leaders will insist on tough enforcement rules for any trade deal with Britain, warning that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's bid to override the Brexit treaty has shown Britain's word cannot be trusted, the Financial Times reported. EU diplomats said leaders at a summit starting on Thursday would call on EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to ...

Johnson tells Merkel that progress is required in post-Brexit trade talks

12th October 2020

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday that progress must be made in post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union in coming days to bridge "significant gaps", his office said. Johnson, who spoke to Merkel earlier on Sunday, repeated his belief that "while achieving a deal in the coming days would be beneficial for both sides, the UK was also prep...

British government urges businesses to prepare for end of Brexit transition period

11th October 2020

Britain's government on Sunday urged businesses to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period, saying that they need to take action whether or not a trade deal with the European Union is clinched. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Britain won't extend the transition period, which ends on Dec 31, and that progress must be made to bridge significant gaps between the two sides in the...

Britain, EU agree to pursue mini-deals if talks fail next week

10th October 2020

Britain and the European Union have agreed to pursue 'mini-deals' in areas of mutual interest, such as aviation and road transport, even if trade negotiations for a wider deal break down next week, The Times reported on Saturday. European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and Britain's chief negotiator David Frost have agreed that even if a wider deal proves impossible to reach on O...

EU’s Barnier to return to Brussels after meeting UK’s Frost – EU official

9th October 2020

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will shortly return to Brussels from London on Friday after a morning meeting with Britain's lead negotiator David Frost, an EU official told Reuters. The two negotiators' teams are in fraught talks to reach a deal on the future relationship between the EU and Britain ahead of a meeting of the leaders of the 27-nation bloc next week. Furthe...

Britain eyeing 10 centres for post-Brexit customs checks

9th October 2020

Britain may build up to 10 centres to process customs checks and paperwork for trucks bound for Europe after Brexit and will fine drivers who head to ports without the correct documentation. Britain will fully leave the European Union on Dec. 31, meaning businesses will need declarations to import and export into the world's biggest trading bloc for the first time in years. With less than t...