UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK can now “move forward as one country” as he signed the EU Withdrawal Agreement that is set to see the UK leave the EU next week.
Mr Johnson signed the document on Friday, just hours after president of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and head of the European Council Charles Michel from the European Union signed the deal.
The deal must now be approved by the European Parliament. If the deal is approved, the UK should be leaving the European Union next Friday.
The UK and EU still need to negotiate a future relationship and trade agreement, and this can be done after leaving day once the transition period has begun. While in the transition period, the UK will still be part of EU institutions so no immediate changes or disruption is expected, however, the UK will no longer have any say in how these institutions are run.
The transition period is currently set to run up until the end of the year – it may be extended, however, Boris Johnson has so far refused to contemplate an extension.
The signing of the Withdrawal Agreement by Mr Johnson came a day after the Brexit deal became UK, receiving royal assent from the Queen after making its way through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
