The Brexit saga, rich in twists and turns, will have lasted four and a half years.
It ends this Thursday evening at midnight.
Divorced from the European Union, the United Kingdom will then begin a new page in its history, in a context of deep crisis.
What will be the consequences for European nationals?
For the movement of goods?
We take stock.
Trade.
The post-Brexit agreement, concluded on December 24 to frame the historic break, guarantees trade without customs duties or quotas for "all goods that comply with the appropriate rules of origin".
Unheard of in a trade agreement.
This compromise avoids customs duties of 10% for the automotive sector, 25% for processed fish products or 50% for beef, dairy products, poultry, pork, lamb, grains, sugar and several processed food products.
However, companies will have to submit to customs declaration formalities in both directions, and health checks are planned.
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The Peach.
The post-Brexit deal provides for giving European fishermen access to British waters for a transitional period of five and a half years, until June 2026. During this period, the EU will have to gradually give up 25% in value of its taken, which total around 650 million euros per year.
If the UK restricts the EU's access or catches, the EU may retaliate by imposing tariffs on UK fishery or other goods, or even suspending much of it. of the trade agreement while keeping intact the rules of fair competition.
The border crossing.
From January 1, border control will be re-established between the UK and Europe.
European nationals will still be able to enter the territory across the Channel with an identity card, but this tolerance period will end on October 1.
Only passports will then be accepted to go through customs.
Also note that the European Health Insurance Card will no longer be valid in the United Kingdom.
Gibraltar.
London and Madrid reached "an agreement in principle" on Thursday, which will allow freedom of movement to be maintained on the border between Spain and the British enclave located south of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Schengen agreements, which guarantee the free movement of people between 26 European states without passport control, will now apply to Gibraltar.
Settle in the UK.
EU nationals will need to apply for a visa from the immigration authorities.
The only exception: current expatriates over the age of five, who have until June 30, 2021 to obtain a special status - “settled status” - allowing them to retain their right of residence and work.
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Travel.
For short tourist stays (less than six months) and business trips, no UK visa will be required.
Students and summer jobs.
For them, the situation is getting more complicated.
People wishing to do odd jobs in the UK will need to meet several criteria, such as already having a job offer from an approved body with an annual minimum salary of around € 30,000.
For students, university fees will increase considerably as UK universities are no longer eligible for the Erasmus exchange program.
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Judicial cooperation.
The post-Brexit agreement "establishes a new framework" for police and judicial cooperation, "in particular to fight cross-border crime and terrorism".
The two sides will continue to share DNA, fingerprints and passenger information and will cooperate through Europol.
This cooperation could be suspended if the United Kingdom renounces its adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights or "to have it applied at national level".
