Nothing is over until...: London and Brussels reach agreement, the last step is the hardest

(Patria) – Great Britain and the EU have reached an agreement on the terms of exit 3 years after Brexit was voted on in a referendum.

The agreement now needs to be supported by British lawmakers and the European Parliament.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated at a press conference that he is happy with the outcome and hopes his colleagues in Westminster will 'unite to deliver Brexit without further delay'.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker commented at the same joint press conference that there is no longer a need for an extension and that he is 'happy about the agreement, but sad about Brexit'.

The British Parliament will vote on the agreement at an extraordinary session on Saturday. If the agreement does not receive majority support, Johnson will be forced to seek an extension from the EU.

In accordance with the new agreement, Northern Ireland will leave the EU customs union along with the rest of Great Britain. However, to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland, customs checkpoints will not be introduced on the island. Instead, checks will be carried out at ports.

Northern Ireland will partially remain connected to the single market, but not to an extent that would require a hard border with the south. The new arrangement also encourages free trade in the future, without tariffs.

Northern Ireland has also been given a new mechanism that gives its government the option to decide whether to continue working in accordance with EU rules. During the transition period, which will last until 2020, nothing will change for British or EU citizens, and it can be extended for two years if necessary.

However, the new arrangement has not been met with enthusiasm by all actors in this political process, especially by opposition parties in Ireland and the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. They believe the proposals 'are not good for the economy of Northern Ireland and undermine the integrity of the Union'.

Now follows perhaps the hardest step – given that he does not have majority support in parliament, the British Prime Minister now needs the support of both parties to succeed in ratifying the agreement.