Brexit: EU-UK relationship

The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020.

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom (UK) held a referendum on their membership of the European Union (EU). The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48%.

On 29 March 2017 the UK notified the European Council of its intention to leave the EU, thus formally triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.

On 30 January 2020, the EU ratified the Withdrawal agreement.

On 31 January 2020 at midnight (CET), when the Withdrawal agreement entered into force, the United Kingdom left the European Union and became a third country. This marked the start of a transition period that lasted until 31 December 2020.

On 24 December 2020, the EU and UK agreed a trade and cooperation agreement, reshaping their future relations. All 27 Member States approved the agreement on 29 December 2020.

On 31 December 2020, the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is provisionally applicable since 1 January 2021.

Below, you will find a

Search link for Brexit related-documents on EUR-Lex
Key documents related to Brexit
Summaries of EU legislation related to Brexit
EU documents about the UK and its position in the EU
Links to other EU web pages about Brexit

Launch a search on Brexit related documents on EUR-Lex

Key documents

Latest agreement document	Published in
Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part	OJ 149 30.04.2021
Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information	OJ 149 30.04.2021
Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Atomic Energy Community for Cooperation on the Safe and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy	OJ L150 30.04.2021
Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 of 29 April 2021 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information	OJ 149 30.04.2021
Declarations referred to in the Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and of the Agreement concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information	OJ 149 30.04.2021
Notice concerning the entry into force of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information	OJ 149 30.04.2021
TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, OF THE OTHER PART	OJ L444 31.12.2020
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND CONCERNING SECURITY PROCEDURES FOR EXCHANGING AND PROTECTING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION	OJ L444 31.12.2020
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY FOR COOPERATION ON THE SAFE AND PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY	OJ L 445, 31.12.2020
Notice concerning the provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information and of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Atomic Energy Community for Cooperation on the Safe and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy	OJ L 1, 1.1.2021
Council Decision (EU) 2020/2252 of 29 December 2020 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and on provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information	OJ L444 31.12.2020
Council Decision (Euratom) 2020/2253 of 29 December 2020 approving the conclusion, by the European Commission, of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Atomic Energy Community for Cooperation on the Safe and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the conclusion, by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part	OJ L444 31.12.2020
Declarations referred to in the Council Decision on the signing on behalf of the Union, and on a provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and of the Agreement concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information	OJ L444 31.12.2020
EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - Notification by the Union	OJ L444 31.12.2020

Document title	Published in
Council Decision (EU) 2020/135 of 30 January 2020 on the conclusion of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ L 029 31.01.2020
Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ L 029 31.01.2020
Declaration by the European Union made in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 185 of the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ L 029 31.01.2020
Notice concerning the entry into force of the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ L 029 31.01.2020
Political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom	OJ C 034 31.01.2020

Document title	Published in
Decision No 1/2022 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 21 February 2022 amending the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community [2022/291]	OJ L 43, 24.02.2022
Decision No 2/2022 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Communi of 21 February 2022 amending Decision No 7/2020 establishing a list of 25 persons who are willing and able to serve as members of an arbitration panel under the Agreement (2022/292)	OJ L 43, 24.02.2022
Decision No 7/2020 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 22 December 2020 establishing a list of 25 persons who are willing and able to serve as members of an arbitration panel under the Agreement [2020/2251]	OJ L 443, 30.12.2020
Council Decision (EU) 2020/2232 of 22 December 2020 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the adoption of a decision establishing a list of 25 persons who are willing and able to serve as members of an arbitration panel under the Agreement and on a reserve list of persons who are willing and able to serve as Union members of an arbitration panel under the Agreement	OJ L 437, 28.12.2020
Council Decision (EU) 2021/1 of 17 December 2020 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards agricultural subsidies	OJ L 2, 06.01.2021
Decision No 5/2020 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 17 December 2020 determining the initial maximum exempted overall annual level of support and the initial minimum percentage referred to in Article 10(2) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community [2020/2249]	OJ L 443, 30.12.2020
Decision No 3/2020 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 17 December 2020 amending the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community [2020/2247]	OJ L 443, 30.12.2020
Decision No 4/2020 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 17 December 2020 on the determination of goods not at risk [2020/2248]	OJ L 443, 30.12.2020
Decision No 2/2020 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 17 December 2020 setting the date from which the provisions of Title III of Part Two of the Agreement shall apply to the nationals of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, and the Swiss Confederation [2020/2246]	OJ L 443, 30.12.2020
Decision No 6/2020 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 17 December 2020 providing for the practical working arrangements relating to the exercise of the rights of Union representatives referred to in Article 12(2) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland [2020/2250]	OJ L 443, 30.12.2020
Council Decision (EU) 2020/2186 of 17 December 2020 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards practical working arrangements relating to the exercise of the rights of Union representatives	OJ L 435, 23.12.2020
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Getting ready for changes Communication on readiness at the end of the transition period between the European Union and the United Kingdom	COM/2020/324
Council Decision (EU) 2020/769 of 10 June 2020 establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the amendment of the Agreement	OJ L 187, 12.6.2020
Council Decision (EU) 2020/48 of 21 January 2020 amending Decision (EU) 2019/274 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Text with EEA relevance)	OJ L 16I, 21.1.2020
Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ C 384I, 12.11.2019
Political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom	OJ C 384I, 12.11.2019
Council Decision (EU) 2019/1750 of 21 October 2019 amending Decision (EU) 2019/274 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Text with EEA relevance)	OJ L 274I, 28.10.2019
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision (EU) 2019/274 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	COM/2019/880
Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ C 144I, 25.4.2019
European Council Decision (EU) 2019/584 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 11 April 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU	OJ L 101, 11.4.2019
European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3)TEU	OJ L 80I, 22.3.2019
Political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom	OJ C 66I, 19.2.2019
Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	OJ C 66I, 19.2.2019
Council Decision (EU) 2019/274 of 11 January 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Text with EEA relevance)	OJ L 47I, 19.2.2019
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: Implementing the Commission’s Contingency Action Plan	COM/2018/890
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2031 of 19 December 2018 determining, for a limited period of time, that the regulatory framework applicable to central counterparties in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is equivalent, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council	OJ L 325, 20.12.2018
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2030 of 19 December 2018 determining, for a limited period of time, that the regulatory framework applicable to central securities depositories of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is equivalent in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 909/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council	OJ L 325, 20.12.2018
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community	COM/2018/833
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: a Contingency Action Plan	COM/2018/880
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019	COM/2018/556
European Council Decision (EU) 2018/937 of 28 June 2018 establishing the composition of the European Parliament	OJ L 165I, 2.7.2018
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL (ARTICLE 50) on the state of progress of the negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union	COM/2017/0784
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION supplementing the Council Decision of 22 May 2017 authorising the opening of negotiations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for an agreement setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal from the European Union	COM/2017/0830
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2017/900 of 22 May 2017 concerning the establishment of the ad hoc Working Party on Article 50 TEU chaired by the General Secretariat of the Council	OJ L 138, 25.5.2017
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the Commission to open negotiations on an agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal from the European Union	COM/2017/0218
Resolution of the European Committee of the Regions on the implications for local and regional government of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Union	OJ C 272, 17.8.2017

Summaries of EU legislation

Documents related to the UK membership to the EU

2016

2007: Treaty of Lisbon

2003: Accession Treaty

Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded - Protocol No 3 on the sovereign base areas of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Cyprus

2001: Treaty of Nice

1997: Treaty of Amsterdam

Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union (Schengen agreement on border controls)

1992: Treaty of Maastricht

Protocol (No 25) on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1992)

1985: UK rebate

1972: Treaty of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom (1972)

Related sites

Consequences of Brexit (European Commission)
Relations with the UK (European Commission)
Meetings of the EU-UK Joint and Specialised Committees under the Withdrawal Agreement (European Commission)
Documents related to the work of the Task Force for Relations with the UK (European Commission)
Brexit overview and timeline (Council of the European Union)
Brexit – European Parliament latest (European Parliament)

Updated: 27/03/2023