“
Deal is done!
More than four years after the Brexit referendum on June 23, 2016, London and Brussels finally agreed on a historic post-Brexit trade deal on Christmas Eve, and one week before the final break on January 1, 2021.
Live: LIVE - Brexit: UK and EU reach agreement
Member States of the European Union will now have to vote on a procedure for the provisional application of the agreement, so that it enters into force on the first day of the new year.
The European Parliament will not take a decision until 2021. Its green light is essential for the official entry into force of the agreement.
A few minutes after the announcement of the agreement, the reactions of the political leaders of the Europe of the 27 and across the Channel did not take long.
Overview.
A
"
fair, balanced and just
" agreement
, for the President of the European Commission
“
This agreement is fair, balanced and just.
We can finally leave Brexit behind us, Europe continues to move forward,
”European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference.
The UK will remain "
a trustworthy partner
" of the European Union, she added.
Read also: Brexit: the complex relationship between Paris and London
European negotiator Michel Barnier, between relief and sadness
The European negotiator, Michel Barnier, expressed his relief, adding when speaking of the agreement which he dealt with that it was
"tinged with a certain sadness, when we compare what was before and what now awaits us ”
.
“
After four years of collective efforts to preserve peace and stability and to protect our citizens and our market, I thank you all.
Today is a day of relief with some shadows on the board if we compare what there was before with what is in front of us,
”said the Frenchman.
The reactions across the Channel did not take long
Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister
Across the Channel, the reactions of political leaders did not take long.
Starting with the British Prime Minister.
Minutes after the deal was announced, Boris Johnson posted on Twitter a photo of himself exulting, arms outstretched and thumbs up, captioned:
"The deal has been found,"
adding that it was 'an agreement
"good for all of Europe".
Later at a press conference, the Prime Minister felt that the UK had regained control of its destiny.
"
We have regained control of our laws and our destiny,
" he said.
"
We have achieved our biggest trade agreement,
" he said, saying that this post-Brexit agreement is "
good for all of Europe
".
UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss greeted the news on Twitter.
“We will have a strong trade relationship with the EU and deepen our trade with our partners around the world through our independent trade policy
,” she wrote.
In addition, the former British Prime Minister David Cameron, instigator of the organization of the referendum on the Brexit, also congratulated the agreement between the Europe of 27 and the United Kingdom.
“
The trade deal is really welcome,
” he wrote.
Scotland puts independence back on the table
For its part, Scotland took the opportunity to put independence back on the table.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a member of the independence party, said it was high time for the British province to become an
“independent European nation”
after the agreement was concluded.
"Brexit comes against the will of the people of Scotland
[who voted 62% against leaving the EU],
"
tweeted Nicola Sturgeon, stressing that
"no deal can ever make up for what Brexit takes away from us. "
.
“It is time to chart our own future as an independent European nation
,” she said, as London denies Scotland a new referendum on independence.
Europe of the 27 satisfied
French President Emmanuel Macron hails
"
European firmness
"
Emmanuel Macron was also quick to react.
“European
unity and firmness have paid off.
The agreement with the United Kingdom is essential to protect our citizens, our fishermen, our producers.
We will make sure this is the case.
Europe is moving forward and can look to the future, united, sovereign and strong,
”tweeted the French president.
The French Minister of the Sea, Annick Girardin, very concerned by the very delicate matter of fishing between the two parties, also welcomed the agreement.
"
These negotiations were tough, but the agreement allows the Channel to remain a peaceful area for fishing,
" the minister reacted on Twitter.
Read also: Brexit: what fate for European expatriates after January 1?
German Chancellor satisfied
On the other side of the Rhine, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "
confident
" in the fact that the agreement obtained by torn between the European Union and the United Kingdom on their future trade relationship was "
a good result
".
"
I am very confident that we have a good result here
," she said in a statement.
“
With this agreement, we are laying the foundations for a new chapter in our relationship.
The UK will continue to be an important partner for Germany and for the European Union outside the Union,
”he said.
Belgium welcomes fair competition
For his part, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that the Brexit trade agreement reached with the European Union on Thursday offers the possibility of maintaining a solid relationship with the United Kingdom and "
provides crucial guarantees for competition. loyal to our businesses
”.
In Ireland, a "
welcome
"
post-Brexit agreement
Finally, Ireland felt that the trade deal protects its interests as well as one might have hoped, Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney said.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin welcomed the conclusion of the agreement, his foreign minister welcoming that the return of a physical border to the island of Ireland was avoided.
"A Brexit agreement is really welcome after four long years of negotiations"
, responded Micheal Martin, believing that such an agreement will now allow to focus on
"
[their]
management of a good relationship in the years to come" .