At Stella Maris Solicitors, we can provide quality legal advice in relation to Brexit, should you require it.

Brexit Timeline and Key Dates

January 31^st, 2020:  Britain left the EU

November 26^th, 2020: Trade Deal must be presented to European Parliament for ratification

December 31^st , 2020: End of the Transition Period and the UK fully leaves the EU

January 1^st , 2021:  New rules will be introduced and the UK will begin a new relationship with the EU

The UK has already left the EU with the Withdrawal Agreement

This agreement had only set out the process of how the UK would leave the EU, it did not detail the future relationship between them. Negotiations on the future relationship were always intended to be held after 31 January 2020 and during the transition period.

During the transition period, the UK continues to follow EU rules and trade

Until the transition period ends, life in the UK will remain the same as it was pre-Brexit while the UK and the EU negotiate their deal.

After 31 December 2020, the UK will automatically drop out of the EU’s main trading arrangements

These main trading arrangements include the Single Market and the Customs Union. Failure for both parties to reach a deal will mean that future trading with the EU will have to follow the standard WTO trading rules.

This will mean:

• Tariffs will be applied to most goods that UK businesses export to the EU
• The UK could similarly apply these tariffs to EU goods
• Full border checks for goods (this could lead to significant delays)
• The UK service industry will lose its guaranteed access (this could affect various professionals e.g. bankers, lawyers, musicians, and chefs)

The UK has signed an agreement in principle with Japan

The UK government reports that this agreement means 99% of UK exports to Japan will be free of tariffs; this is very similar to the deal the EU signed with Japan back in 2018.

The UK is also a part of 40 trade deals made by the EU with more than 70 countries

19 of these deals have been rolled over for the UK’s post-transition period and will therefore continue to apply when the UK has left the EU.

However, any trade deals that are not rolled over will cease on 31 December 2020, and future trade deals will be based on the WTO terms until an alternative deal is reached.

What you can do now:

Travelling to the EU:

• You can continue to travel to the EU as usual during the transition period
• From the 1st of January 2021, there will be new rules for travel to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein
• For further details, please see the government website at https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021

Staying in the UK if you are an EU citizen:

• You need to check if you need to apply to the settlement scheme if you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein
• For further details, please see the government website at https://www.gov.uk/staying-uk-eu-citizen

Continuing to live and work in the EU:

• Living and working in the EU depends on the rules in the relevant EU country
• You may need to apply for residency
• You should check that you are covered for healthcare
• You may also need to exchange your UK driving licence for a licence issued by the EU country where you live
• For further details, please see the government website at https://www.gov.uk/uk-nationals-living-eu

If you require legal advice in relation to Brexit, do not hesitate to contact us, either by email at mail@stellamarissolicitorsllp.co.ukor phone on 01793680053.