15 Jan
Brexit News, Member News

Osborne Clarke Timelone for Brexit 2020

Timeline for Brexit 2020

7 January Withdrawal Agreement Bill returned to the House of Commons.
9 January Third reading of the WAB and end of Commons stages of the WAB.
13 January WAB passed to the House of Lords. Although some Lords may attempt to amend the WAB, the House itself will be mindful that the WAB was a Conservative manifesto commitment.
By 29 January The WAB will be law.
29 January (expected) European Parliament consents to the Withdrawal Agreement.
Some point between 29 to 31 January The UK and the EU ratify the Withdrawal Agreement.
11.00 p.m. (UK time) on 31 January 2020 UK exit from the EU. Start of status quo transition period.
February onwards UK domestic legislation required for Brexit should start to be published.

This will include an Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, to end free movement after the transition period; the Environment Bill; a Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill; a Trade Bill; the Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill; financial services legislation; and Fisheries and Agriculture Bills.
25 February EU mandate for the future relationship negotiations expected to be signed off by the General Affairs Council – meaning that the formal negotiations can start.
March to October UK-EU negotiations on the future relationship.

The expectation is that these negotiations will need to be wrapped up at some point in autumn 2020, to allow time for ratification by EU Member States. The nature of that ratification will depend on the contents of the future relationship agreement(s).
June 2020 EU and UK meet to ‘take stock of progress’ in the negotiations.
30 June Latest possible date for the UK and the EU to agree an extension to the status quo transition period (see Article 132 of the Withdrawal Agreement). The UK government is adamant that there will be no extension.
End of June 2020 Financial services equivalence assessments decisions due under the Political Declaration if conditions met (see page 9 of the PD).
End of June 2020 Fisheries agreements due under the Political Declaration if conditions met (see page 14 of the PD).
End of December 2020 Data adequacy decision due under the Political Declaration if conditions met (see page 4 of the PD).
End of December 2020 Details of the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol to be agreed (see Article 5(2) of the Protocol at page 300 of the Withdrawal Agreement).
11.00 p.m. (UK time) on 31 December 2020 Expected end of the status quo transition period.

The future relationship agreement(s), if these have been successfully negotiated and ratified, govern UK-EU affairs. If they haven’t, the UK may leave on ‘no future deal’ terms.

‘Retained EU law’ transposed into UK law.

Compliments of Osborne Clarke, a Member of the EACCNY