Gavin Howe
The United Kingdom (UK) formally left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership. The withdrawal, commonly known as Brexit, was the result of a public vote held in June 2016, in which the electorate decided by a 3.8% majority to favour leaving. The process of leaving was triggered on 29 March 2017, when the UK government invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which allows a member state to withdraw in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. The UK is the only member state to have withdrawn from the EU, and its departure has had significant implications for various aspects of UK law and policy, including trade, immigration, and security.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of UK's exit from the EU | 31 January 2020 |
| Time of exit | 23:00 GMT |
| Date of ratification of the withdrawal agreement | 23 January 2020 |
| Date of the referendum on the issue | June 2016 |
| Result of the referendum | 3.8% majority in favour of leaving |
| Date of triggering Article 50 | 29 March 2017 |
| Date of the end of the transition period | 31 December 2020 |
| Date of the finalization of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) | December 2020 |
| Date TCA came into force | May 2021 |
| Date Northern Ireland Protocol came into force | 1 January 2021 |
| Date of Windsor Framework | February 2023 |
| Date of the latest meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) | 17 and 18 March 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
- The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT
- The UK triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017
- The UK's relationship with the EU is now governed by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
- The UK is no longer subject to EU law or part of its political bodies
- The UK has left the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT
The United Kingdom (UK) formally left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 at 11:00 pm GMT. This event, commonly referred to as "Brexit", marked the end of the UK's 47-year membership in the EU and triggered a transition period that lasted until 31 December 2020. During this transition phase, the UK remained subject to EU laws and was part of the European Union Customs Union and the European single market. However, it was no longer involved in the EU's political bodies or institutions.
The UK's departure from the EU was the culmination of a complex political and legal process. It began with a referendum held in June 2016, in which the British electorate narrowly voted to leave the EU. Following this, the UK government triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on 29 March 2017, initiating the country's withdrawal process. The initial deadline for withdrawal was set for 29 March 2019, but the UK sought and obtained several extensions to this date.
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, also known as the "Withdrawal Agreement," was a crucial piece of legislation in this process. It provided the legal framework for ratifying the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and incorporating it into UK domestic law. The bill underwent several readings in Parliament before receiving Royal Assent on 23 January 2020, just nine days before the UK's official exit from the EU.
The Withdrawal Agreement addressed several key aspects of the UK's departure, including citizens' rights, separation issues, the transition period, financial settlements, and the governance structure. Despite the UK's departure, it continued to participate in the EU's single market and customs union during the transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020. This period allowed for negotiations between the UK and the EU to establish their future relationship and resulted in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which came into force in May 2021.
Brexit has had significant implications for the UK's legal system, international relations, and various industries. It has led to changes in rules and procedures, particularly in areas such as explosives, work equipment, and machinery. The UK has also had to renegotiate trade agreements and address issues related to customs and border controls. The overall impact of Brexit continues to be assessed and is likely to shape UK politics and lawmaking for years to come.
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The UK triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017
On 23 June 2016, the UK held a referendum on whether to leave the European Union. The public voted in favour of leaving, with a majority of 3.8%. This decision was upheld on 29 March 2017, when the UK triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, also known as the Lisbon Treaty.
Article 50 allows a member state to withdraw from the EU. It was drafted by British cross-bench peer Lord Kerr of Kinlochard and entered into force in 2009. The triggering of Article 50 set in motion the process of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, with the withdrawal originally scheduled for 29 March 2019.
The UK's EU ambassador, Sir Tim Barrow, delivered a six-page letter to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, informing him of the UK's intention to leave. The letter outlined seven key principles for Britain as it entered negotiations, including a commitment to engage "constructively and respectfully" and to put "citizens first".
The UK's departure from the EU, often referred to as Brexit, officially took place at 11 p.m. GMT on 31 January 2020. This marked the end of the UK's 47-year membership of the EU and the beginning of a transition period during which the UK and EU negotiated their future relationship. The transition period ended on 31 December 2020, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and EU came into force in May 2021, governing the post-Brexit relationship.
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The UK's relationship with the EU is now governed by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
The United Kingdom (UK) formally left the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020, at 23:00 GMT. This marked the end of the UK's 47-year membership in the EU and initiated a transition period that lasted until December 31, 2020. During this transition, the UK remained subject to EU law and was part of the European Union Customs Union and the European single market. However, it was no longer involved in the EU's political bodies or institutions.
The UK's departure from the EU was the result of a public vote held in June 2016, commonly known as Brexit. Following this vote, the UK government triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) in March 2017, beginning the formal withdrawal process. The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 was then enacted to ratify the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and incorporate it into UK domestic law.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is a comprehensive deal signed between the EU, the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the UK. It was signed on December 30, 2020, and provisionally applied from January 1, 2021, before formally entering into force on May 1, 2021, after ratification by both parties. The TCA governs the post-Brexit relationship between the EU and the UK and covers various areas, including:
- Trade in goods and services: The TCA provides for free trade in goods and limited mutual market access in services. It eliminates tariffs and quotas on trade in goods between the EU and the UK and establishes rules of origin and preferential treatment.
- Law enforcement and security: The TCA establishes a new framework for law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal and civil law matters. It recognizes the need for strong cooperation between police and judicial authorities in fighting cross-border crime and terrorism. However, the UK's access to real-time EU crime data is no longer the same as during its membership.
- Transport: The TCA addresses transport issues, including aviation and road transport. The UK has had to replace its air service agreements with other countries following Brexit.
- Fisheries: The TCA includes provisions for transitional arrangements regarding EU access to UK fisheries.
- Social security: The agreement covers social security coordination between the EU and the UK.
- Governance: The TCA establishes a Joint Partnership Council, also known as the EU-UK Partnership Council, to ensure proper application and interpretation of the agreement. It also sets up the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) as a forum for parliamentarians to discuss the implementation of the TCA and broader EU-UK relations.
- Dispute resolution: The agreement includes binding enforcement and dispute settlement mechanisms to ensure the rights of businesses, consumers, and individuals are respected.
- Digital trade and intellectual property: The TCA covers digital trade and intellectual property rights.
- Energy: Energy cooperation is included in the agreement, with potential for deeper collaboration in this area.
- Defence: While the UK's defence cooperation with the EU has changed, geopolitical pressures have highlighted the need for stronger EU-UK security and defence collaboration.
The TCA aims to provide legal certainty and clarity for businesses, consumers, and citizens, ensuring a level playing field and respect for fundamental rights. It also allows the UK to "take back control" of its laws, borders, and policies, as described by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
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The UK is no longer subject to EU law or part of its political bodies
The United Kingdom (UK) formally left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership. The UK is the only member state to have withdrawn from the EU. The withdrawal was advocated by mostly right-wing and conservative hard Eurosceptics.
The UK's departure from the EU was the result of a public vote held in June 2016, in which the electorate decided by a 3.8% majority to favour leaving. This decision triggered a two-year period of withdrawal negotiations, during which the UK remained subject to EU law and remained part of the European Union Customs Union and the European single market. The UK government triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on 29 March 2017, beginning the process of withdrawing from the EU.
Following the UK's exit from the EU, EU law and the Court of Justice of the European Union no longer have primacy over British laws. The UK is no longer subject to EU law or part of its political bodies, although it remains legally bound by obligations in various treaties with other countries, including many EU member states. The UK has also left the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
During the transition period after Brexit, which ended on 31 December 2020, the UK continued to participate in the EU's single market and customs union. In December 2020, the EU and the UK finalised the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which came into force in May 2021. The TCA governs the post-Brexit relationship and sets out detailed provisions in various areas, including trade in goods and services, digital commerce, transport, energy, fisheries, and law enforcement cooperation. The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) was established under Article 11 of the TCA to serve as a forum for parliamentarians to exchange views on the implementation and operation of the TCA and broader issues in EU-UK relations.
The UK government has pledged to 'reset' its relationship with the EU, emphasising structured engagement, regular political consultations, and pragmatic cooperation across areas of mutual interest. Despite the UK's withdrawal from the EU, there is still cooperation between the two in various fields, including defence, trade, research and innovation, and competition policy.
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The UK has left the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The United Kingdom (UK) formally left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership. The UK is the only member state to have withdrawn from the EU. The UK's exit from the EU, commonly known as Brexit, was the result of a public vote held in June 2016, where the electorate decided by a 3.8% majority to favour leaving.
As a consequence of Brexit, the UK has left the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP is the agricultural policy of the European Commission, which was launched in 1962. It implements a system of agricultural subsidies and other programmes, aiming to support farmers, improve agricultural productivity, ensure food security, safeguard farmers' livelihoods, tackle climate change, and manage natural resources sustainably. The CAP also focuses on maintaining rural areas and landscapes, and promoting jobs in farming and related industries.
The CAP has been criticised by some British politicians and Eurosceptics, who argue that it is detrimental to the UK economy and encourages environmentally damaging intensive farming practices. However, others defend the CAP as protecting the rural way of life and providing food security.
Following Brexit, the UK has the opportunity to develop its own distinct agricultural policies. However, there are challenges associated with competing with EU farmers who still receive CAP benefits, the need to continue exporting agrifood products to the EU, and the cost and complexity of developing new policy instruments. The overall budget for agricultural support in the UK is expected to decline.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership.
The UK left the EU by triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on 29 March 2017, following a referendum held in June 2016. This began a two-year period of withdrawal negotiations.
Brexit has had a profound impact on the UK's legal system. EU law and the Court of Justice of the European Union no longer have primacy over British laws. However, the UK remains legally bound by obligations in various treaties with EU member states and other countries worldwide.
