Now that Britain has voted to leave the EU, what happens now?

Now that Britain has voted to leave the EU, several key steps have been taken and others are ongoing:

Key Events Already Occurred

1. Article 50 Triggered: On March 29, 2017, the UK formally triggered Article 50, starting the two-year countdown to leave the EU14.
2. Brexit Extensions: The UK requested and received several extensions to the original March 29, 2019, departure date, ultimately leaving the EU on January 31, 20201.
3. Withdrawal Agreement: A revised Withdrawal Agreement was negotiated and ratified, including a transition period until December 31, 20202.
4. Transition Period: During this period, many existing EU-UK arrangements remained in place. It ended on December 31, 2020, when the UK fully exited the EU's single market and customs union2.

Current and Future Developments

1. Post-Brexit Relationship: The UK and EU have established a new trade agreement, but there are ongoing negotiations and disputes, particularly regarding Northern Ireland2.
2. Northern Ireland Protocol: The Windsor Framework, agreed in 2023, aims to resolve issues related to Northern Ireland's trading arrangements with the EU25.
3. Future Reviews and Adjustments: Regular reviews of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement are scheduled, with the first review set for December 31, 202535.

Impact and Challenges

• Economic Impact: Brexit has had significant economic effects, including disruptions to trade and labor supply2.
• Public Opinion: There is evidence of "Brexit remorse" among some of the British public2.
• Legal and Regulatory Changes: The UK has converted EU law into domestic law, allowing Parliament to amend or repeal it as needed4.