The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement was finally agreed upon on 14 November 2018, following two years of negotiations. The deal, which was negotiated by the European Union and the United Kingdom, was designed to provide clarity and certainty on the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU.
One of the biggest questions that many people have is: how long does the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement last? The answer to that question is somewhat complicated, as there are a few different elements to consider.
Firstly, it is important to understand that the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is not a permanent agreement. Rather, it is designed to provide a framework for the UK and the EU to manage the process of the UK`s departure from the EU, and to establish a set of transition arrangements to help ensure a smooth exit.
The Withdrawal Agreement has a number of key provisions. Perhaps the most important of these is the provision for a transition period, which is set to last until 31 December 2020. During this period, the UK will continue to be subject to EU law and will continue to have access to the EU`s single market and customs union.
Beyond the transition period, however, the future relationship between the UK and the EU is still uncertain. The Withdrawal Agreement includes a non-binding political declaration which sets out the framework for negotiations on the future relationship, but the exact terms of this relationship will need to be negotiated over the coming years.
It is worth noting that there is some flexibility built into the Withdrawal Agreement. If both the UK and the EU agree, the transition period can be extended by up to two years, meaning that it could potentially last until the end of 2022. However, any extension must be agreed upon before 1 July 2020.
In summary, the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is designed to provide a framework for managing the UK`s departure from the EU and establishing a set of transition arrangements. The transition period is set to last until 31 December 2020, but this can be extended by up to two years if both the UK and the EU agree. Beyond the transition period, the future relationship between the UK and the EU is still to be negotiated.