The European Union`s revised withdrawal agreement is making headlines once again, as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the EU on January 31, 2020. The revised agreement, negotiated by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in October 2019, outlines the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU and provides a framework for future negotiations.
The key change in the revised withdrawal agreement is the removal of the controversial “backstop” arrangement. The backstop, which was included in the previous withdrawal agreement negotiated by former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, aimed to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (an EU member state). However, many lawmakers in the UK saw the backstop as a way for the EU to exert too much control over the UK.
Under the revised agreement, Northern Ireland will remain aligned with EU regulations for goods and agricultural products, while the rest of the UK will have the ability to diverge from EU regulations. This creates a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, but a regulatory border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be avoided. The agreement also includes provisions for a transition period until the end of 2020, during which time the UK and EU will negotiate a trade deal.
The revised withdrawal agreement has been approved by both the UK and EU, but it still needs to be ratified by the UK Parliament. Johnson`s Conservative Party won a large majority in the December 2019 general election, which should make ratification of the agreement more likely. However, there are still concerns among some lawmakers, particularly those from Northern Ireland, about the impact of the agreement on the country`s economy and political stability.
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