The EU Transition Period ends on 31 December 2020

Find out what you need to do to prepare for the new rules from January 2021

https://www.gov.uk/transition

A number of constituents have contacted me to request an extension of the EU transition period.

Following the UK leaving the EU on 31 January 2020, a transition period is due to operate until 31st December 2020, during which market access remains the same and the UK and EU are negotiating an agreement on their future relationship. The Government will continue to try and procure the best possible deal for Britain. Coronavirus has had an impact on the negotiations, which has led some to consider the desirability of an extension to the period. 

I appreciate constituents' concerns but the deadline for extending the transition period has now passed.  The UK and the EU agreed that the transition period would end on 31 December as part of the Withdrawal Agreement. This is part of UK law.

An extension to the transition period could also have had significant economic and political consequences for the UK. Our contribution to the EU budget would have continued and we would have remained under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. The UK left the EU in January this year and the EU’s control over our affairs must come to an end.

Negotiations have continued throughout the coronavirus outbreak with discussions by videoconference in April, May and June following the first round of talks in March. Face-to-face negotiations have now resumed and the technical detail is well understood by both sides. The differences that remain are largely of a political nature and I am hopeful that these can be resolved. The UK is not asking for a special, bespoke, or unique deal. We are looking for a deal like those the EU has previously struck with other friendly countries like Canada.