Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018
117. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the UK will cease to be a member state of the EU at the end of March 2019 even if a withdrawal treaty is ratified and a transition period to the end of 2020 comes into effect. [49781/18]
View answerThe Deputy’s understanding is correct.On 29 March 2017, Prime Minister May notified the President of the European Council, Mr Donald Tusk, of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the European Union. Under the terms of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties will cease to apply to the UK, which will therefore cease to be a Member State of the EU, at 11.00 pm British time on 29 March 2019. This will occur irrespective of whether or not a Withdrawal Agreement has been concluded between the Union and the United Kingdom The Withdrawal Agreement, endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, sets out the terms under which the UK’s withdrawal will happen in an orderly manner. It must now be approved by the European Parliament and the House of Commons before its final conclusion.
The Agreement provides for a period of transition, up to December 2020, during which EU rules and regulations will continue to apply to the UK, though the UK will no longer be a Member State and will not be represented in the Union’s institutions. It allows for the possibility of a single extension of the transition period of “one or two years.”
The transition period will allow for the negotiation of an agreement on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. The framework for that relationship is set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the European Council on 25 November.
It is our very strong hope that the Withdrawal Agreement will come into effect on 29 March 2019.
