Yahoo News Thought Brexit was finished? 6 key dates you need to know about for stage 2
Ever since the 2016 referendum, Brexit has been a never-ending story of key dates and deadlines.
Now that the UK has left the EU, that is not going to change as we enter the “transition period”.
This will see the government enter a fresh round of extensive talks with the EU, negotiating its future relationship – including a trade deal – with the bloc.
Here are six of the key dates to look out for over the next 11 months:
26 February
The EU is set to sign off its negotiating mandate.
This will give the European Commission authorisation to launch talks with the UK.
3 March
Negotiations, led by chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on the EU side and Boris Johnson’s “Brexit sherpa” David Frost on the UK side, will commence.
30 June
The final day the UK can seek an extension to the transition period.
This can be up to two years, though Boris Johnson has insisted there will be no extension.
1 July
The target date for a fisheries agreement.
If one isn’t in place, it raises the prospect of the EU being able to dictate fishing quotas in UK waters.
Week beginning 26 November
The deadline for a trade deal to be presented to the European Parliament for consideration.
31 December
The transition period ends.
If no trade deal is in place, the UK will trade with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms – similar to what a “no-deal” Brexit would have entailed.
It would mean UK goods being subject to EU tariffs, with major implications for UK business.
