The UK has launched formal exit negotiations by formally notifying the European Council of its intention to leave the EU. The new Political Declaration sets the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom and reflects the Government`s ambition to establish an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership in trade and economic cooperation with the EU, with a focus on a free trade agreement with the EU, alongside the security agreements and other areas of cooperation. If no agreement is reached by that date, the UK will leave the single market on 1 January 2021 without a trade agreement. A non-binding political declaration on the future relationship between the EU and the UK is closely linked to the Withdrawal Agreement. EU and UK negotiators reached an agreement on the draft Withdrawal Agreement, which will allow the European Council (Article 50) to adopt guidelines on the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK on 23 March 2018. On 19 October, Parliament also declared that a political agreement had been reached. The EU and the UK have reached an agreement on the Withdrawal Agreement, with a revised protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland (abolition of the “backstop”) and a revised political declaration. .
