London: Britain enters a new era as it completes separation from European Union. The UK stopped following EU rules at 23:00 GMT, as replacement for arrangements for travel, trade. immigration and security co-operation came into force.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday during his New Year address said “This is an amazing moment for this country. We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it”.
“An open, generous, out-ward looking, internationalist and free trading global Britain, that campaigns for 12 years of quality education for every girl in the world. 2021 is the year we can do it and I believe 2021 is above all, the year when we will eventually do those everyday things that now seem lost in the past”, he added.
The UK officially left the 27 member political and economic bloc on 31 January, three and half years after the Brexit referendum.
Under the new arrangements, that came to force at 24:00 CET, UK manufacturers will have tariff-free access to the EU’s internal market but it does mean more paperwork for business and people travelling to EU countries while there is still uncertainty about what will happen to banking and services, which are a major part of the UK economy.