Countdown about to run out on Brexit negotiation extension possibility « Euro Weekly News

Countdown about to run out on Brexit negotiation extension possibility

Brexpats In Spain

Deadline approaching for transition extension Pic: Fotor

The UK left the EU on 31 Jan 2020, physically at any rate if not emotionally, but, today is the day that the UK must ask for an extension to the Brexit negotiations, or there cannot be one

Boris Johnson and his team have only a few hours left to ask the EU for an extension to the timeframe for the Brexit negotiations, (something that the EU are desperate for the UK to do), or the time will run out for an extension to be implemented.

It was agreed at the last extension that if by 12am CET (Central European time), on June 30 2020, a further extension had not been asked for then there could not be any extension whatsoever, and the negotiations would end on the 31 December 2020, regardless of whether a deal has been struck or not, and the UK would wake up on 1 January 2021 either completely free of all ties to the EU or with a deal in place.

The UK government has repeatedly stated that ‘There will not be any extension’, and Prime minister Boris Johnson is adamant that he will not be persuaded to do so under any circumstances.

The EU and the remain campaign have tried to use the Covid-19 crisis to suggest that negotiations would have to be suspended, and therefore an extension would be advisable, but with technology at the level it is at today video conferencing is an easy substitute, and it was considered unlikely that the pandemic would in fact infringe on the possibility of continuing the negotiations.

So it looks like a pretty safe bet that no extension will be forthcoming, and it’s looking more and more like a clean-break Brexit will happen, with sticking points on the negotiating table like the fisheries policy, and the European Court being impossible (at the moment), to agree on.

As things stand at the moment, here is the word from the horses mouth, (The UK government’s own website), what British citizens are likely to expect after 1 January 2021.

The links will take you to more information directly from the UK government.

There are of course so many things that can change before the first of January next year, but for now here is whats on line today at UK.GOV.

Get ready for 2021

The UK has left the EU and is now in a transition period, before new rules come into place from 1 January 2021.

There will be new rules in many areas. For example, if you have a business, travel to Europe or sell your goods abroad. Use this service to answer some questions and get a personalised list of the changes that might affect you.

Check what’s changing and sign up for email alerts

Actions you can take now

Actions you can take now that do not depend on negotiations.

Preparing your business

From 1 January 2021 you will need to make customs declarations to move goods into and out of the EU. You should:

Staying in the UK if you’re an EU citizen

Check if you need to apply to the settlement scheme if you or your family are from the EU, or from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Check what you need to do to stay in the UK

Travel to the EU

You can continue to travel to the EU as usual during the transition period.

From 1 January 2021 there will be new rules to travel to the EU, or to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Check what you need to do to travel to Europe from 2021

Living and working in the EU

Living and working in an EU country depends on the rules in that country.

You may need to register or apply for residency. You should check that you’re covered for healthcare.

You may also need to exchange your UK driving licence for a licence issued by the EU country where you live.

Check what you must do in the country where you live

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Written by

Mark T Connor

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