What do you need to know with regard to Brexit?

 

 

 

• On 25 November 2018 an agreement on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and the declaration on the framework for the future relationship has been backed by EU leaders.
• The withdrawal agreement between the EU and UK sets out the terms for the UK’s departure from the EU. The terms describe the rights and obligations of both the EU and the UK
  • Withdrawal Agreement prepared by the European Commission (PDF) (dated 14 November 2018)
  • Articles of the Withdrawal Agreement additionally agreed in June 2018
• A declaration on the framework for the future relationship of the EU and the UK will accompany the agreement. The declaration is a political agreement that will establish the framework for the formalisation of future agreements.
  • Draft Declaration on the Framework for the Future Relationship  (PDF)
• The Withdrawal Agreement must be ratified by the European Parliament and the UK Parliament in order to enter into force. If the agreement does not enter into force by 30 March 2019, the UK will no longer be a Member State of the EU as of this date and their relationship will be regulated by international law. Such a result is not the goal of either party, which is why the EU and the UK are making every effort to reach an agreement.

• Any agreement(s) on the future relationships of the EU and the UK can only be negotiated and entered into force after the UK has become a third country. For example, an agreement on the future trade relationship can only be negotiated after 29 March 2019.  If the EU and the UK do not conclude a trade agreement, their trade relationships will be regulated by the rules and norms of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
• The draft Withdrawal Agreement prescribes a transition period that will last from 30 March 2019 to 31 December 2020. During that period, EU law will apply to the UK as if it were still a Member State. However, certain exceptions will be applied during the transition period - for example, the UK will not participate in the decision-making process of the EU or vote in the European Parliament elections. During the transition period, the UK will still participate in the customs union and the common market of the EU, it must adhere to the trade policy of the EU and implement EU customs tariffs.
• Chronology of negotiations
• Brexit page of the European Commission

 

Preparations for Brexit

 

 

FAQ

 

Citizens
 

What will change in the status of Estonian and other EU citizens living in the United Kingdom after the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (i.e. after 29.03.2019)?

• Currently, the status of Estonian and other EU citizens remains the same as it was before the referendum of 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom will leave the European Union on 29 March 2019. Until this date, the UK remains an EU Member State with all the rights and obligations associated with membership (incl. the EU law on the free movement of persons).
• The EU and the UK will conclude an agreement regarding the UK's withdrawal from the EU and the rights of citizens form a part of this. By now, the EU and the UK have reached a provisional agreement about the preservation of the rights of the EU citizens living in the UK. The parties aim to reach a final agreement before 29 March 2019.
• The UK is planning to carry out a new registration process for citizens of the EU Member States for the right of residence, which is known as the EU settlement scheme. The electronic platform will be open for applications at the end of 2018 and remain operational 30 June 2021.

What will change for the citizens of the United Kingdom currently living in Estonia?

• A transition period will start after the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, which will last until 31 December 2020. EU law will generally apply to UK citizens and their family members until the end of the transition period.
• The citizens of the UK who live in Estonia can continue living here on the basis of a valid ID card. The family members of UK citizens who are citizens of third countries can stay in Estonia on the basis of their current residence permits. UK citizens and their family members who live in Estonia or arrive in Estonia before the end of the transition period do not have to start applying for a new basis to stay in Estonia (e.g. a residence permit) provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement.
• We plan to start issuing a new document certifying the right of residence in Estonia due to the withdrawal agreement from the beginning of 2021.

 

What will change for the citizens of the United Kingdom currently living in Estonia in the case on no-deal?

• UK citizens can continue to reside in Estonia even if the UK leaves the European Union without a withdrawal agreement.

• Estonia's intention is that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union goes smoothly for those UK citizens and their family members residing in Estonia today, so that they could continue their everyday life without any notable additional bureaucracy.

• The Commission has called upon Member States to take a generous approach to UK nationals who are already resident in their territory and provide them with legal assurances regarding social security, on condition that the UK reciprocates.

 

Lisainfo:

• Communication from the UK Government to EU citizens residing in the UK
• It is possible to sign up for e-mail updates about future changes on the website of the UK Government.
• Questions and answers prepared by the European Commission:
  • The rights of EU27 and UK citizens post-Brexit (PDF)
• Video of the European Commission about the system of applying for new right of residence

Entrepreneurs
 

• The UK will leave the EU on 29 March 2019. Pursuant to the negotiated Withdrawal Agreement, there will be a transition period that starts on 30 March 2019 and ends on 31 December 2020. The UK will remain a member of the internal market during this period and EU law will apply in and to the UK as it does today. After the end of the transition period, a future economic relationship should be regulated by a new agreement, which will be negotiated after the UK has left the EU. 
• In the absence of an EU/UK agreement, the UK will become a third country for the EU and WTO regulations will apply to trade. The changes concern several sectors. It is estimated that the most evident changes will occur in relation to the movement of goods as well as in the transport and financial services sectors. The scope of the changes depends on connections with the UK market, the economic sector in question, the size of the company, etc.
   
• We advise entrepreneurs to think about the following in order to manage risks:
  • find out how goods are currently exchanged with third countries (customs issues, mutual recognition, product labelling, standards, etc.);
  • keep an eye on developments in EU law (e.g. specific amendments in relation to Brexit may be introduced);
  • take a look at how the goods/services related to the market of the UK are covered in other international agreements of the EU;
  • sector-specific preparations could be initiated by comparing the EU law in your sector with thet EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement(CETA).
• The European Commission has prepared technical Brexit preparedness notices in a number of areas that provide primary information about the impending changes and their possible consequences. The list of notices is regularly updated. More information can be found on the Brexit website of the EU Information Centre:
  • Notices of the European Commission
  • EU Information Centre
     

Relations between Estonia and the United Kingdom

 

An overview of the bilateral relations between Estonia and the UK, including our economic relationship and trade, can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.