A long-awaited trade deal between the UK and the EU has been struck just days before the deadline.
The treaty will apply from 1 January 2021 and take over from the existing arrangements under the transition period, which has seen the UK continue to follow most EU rules since Brexit day to limit disruption to travel and business.
Announcing the news, Boris Johnson said beating coronavirus was his “number one national priority” and that he wanted to “end any extra uncertainty” by giving the country “the best possible chance of bouncing back strongly”.
The prime minister promised the deal will allow companies “to do even more business with our European friends” while “taking back control of our laws and our destiny”.
Bidding to sell it to his party and the country, Mr Johnson announced at a Downing Street news conference that “although of course the arguments with our European friends and partners were sometimes fierce, this is, I believe, a good deal for the whole of Europe”.
“This country will remain culturally, emotionally, historically, strategically, geologically attached to Europe,” he added.
Parliament, which has broken up for Christmas, will be reconvened on 30 December to let MPs and peers ratify the agreement.
In her own address, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it had been a “long and winding road” – but that striking a deal was the “right and responsible thing to do”.
She added Brussels would “continue cooperating with the UK in all areas of mutual interest” such as climate change, transport and security – but that “together we still achieve more than we do apart”.
On the key issue of fishing, Ms von der Leyen revealed the deal had guaranteed five-and-a-half years of “full predictability for our fishing communities”.
She said the UK’s chief negotiators had been “tough but fair” and the talks had been “successful”.
In her final comments, Ms von der Leyen said: “Today, I only feel quiet satisfaction and, frankly speaking, relief.
“I know this is a difficult day for some, and to our friends in the UK I want to say: Parting is such sweet sorrow.
“But to use a line from T.S. Eliot, what we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning.
“So to all Europeans I say: It is time to leave Brexit behind, our future is made in Europe.”
Both sides had set a deadline of mid-October for reaching a trade deal, with the expectation it would then take time for the final version to be scrutinised and voted on.
A senior EU diplomat told the Reuters news agency earlier that a provisional application of the deal will need to be approved by member states because there is not enough time for the EU Parliament to ratify the agreement.
There were fears the talks had collapsed when they were paused earlier this month by both sides.
Since then, progress – or the lack of it – was only addressed in brief statements from London and Brussels.
After weeks of diplomatic shuttling between the two cities, including crisis talks between Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen over dinner, the fate of negotiations continued to hang in the balance.
The prime minister said earlier this month that “things are looking difficult”, while the EU’s negotiator Michel Barnier said that “there is a chance of getting an agreement but the path to such an agreement is very narrow”.
The negotiations had stalled on the issue of fishing rights, the “level playing field” measures aimed at preventing the UK from undercutting the EU on standards and state subsidies, and the way that any trade deal disputes would be resolved.
But now a breakthrough has been made.
It means that barring any last-minute surprises, Britain will exit the transition period with an agreement in place.
David Cameron, the Conservative prime minister who called the EU referendum in 2016, said: “It’s good to end a difficult year with some positive news.
“Trade deal is very welcome – and a vital step in building a new relationship with the EU as friends, neighbours and partners. Many congratulations to the UK negotiating team.”
And his successor, Theresa May, tweeted: “Very welcome news that the UK & EU have reached agreement on the terms of a deal – one that provides confidence to business and helps keep trade flowing.
“Looking forward to seeing the detail in the coming days.”
A failure to reach a deal would have seen tariffs imposed on UK exports to the EU – its biggest trading partner – on World Trade Organisation terms, and could also have increased bureaucracy.
But some disruption and teething problems are still likely as business, citizens and governments adapt to the new arrangements that will be in place between the UK and EU.
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