Brexit: A Timeline of Key Events

The Withdrawal Agreement

Brexit was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union at 2300 GMT on 31 January 2020 0000 1 February 2020 CET. As of 2020, the UK is the only member state to have left the EU. The transition period ended on 31 December 2020, and the UK left the EU single market and customs union.

The Referendum

The Brexit referendum was held on 23 June 2016. The result was a vote to leave the EU by a margin of 52% to 48%. The referendum was non-binding, but the government pledged to implement the result.

The Negotiations

The UK and the EU began negotiations on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2017. The negotiations were complex and difficult, and there were many disagreements between the two sides.

The Withdrawal Agreement

The withdrawal agreement was finally agreed upon on 25 November 2018. The agreement set out the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the financial settlement, the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and the UK's future relationship with the EU.

The Ratification Process

The withdrawal agreement was then ratified by the UK Parliament and the European Parliament. The UK Parliament ratified the agreement on 23 January 2019, and the European Parliament ratified the agreement on 29 January 2019.

The Withdrawal

The UK left the EU at 2300 GMT on 31 January 2020. The UK is now a third country outside of the EU.

The Future Relationship

The UK and the EU are now negotiating a future relationship. The future relationship will cover a wide range of issues, including trade, security, and cooperation on foreign policy.