The May`s Agreement: What You Need to Know
The May`s agreement, also known as the Withdrawal Agreement, is a document that outlines the terms of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. The agreement was named after former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who led the negotiations with the EU from 2016 to 2019. The agreement was reached on November 25, 2018, and was approved by the EU on November 25, 2018, after months of tense negotiations.
The May`s agreement was designed to provide a roadmap for the UK`s departure from the EU and to outline the terms of the transition period. Under the agreement, the UK would leave the EU on March 29, 2019, and enter into a transition period until December 31, 2020. During this period, the UK would continue to follow EU rules and regulations, and negotiations would take place to reach a long-term trade deal.
One of the key elements of the May`s agreement was the Irish backstop. The backstop was a mechanism designed to prevent a hard border from being created between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Under the backstop, the UK would remain in a customs union with the EU until a long-term trade deal was reached, to ensure that there would be no hard border.
However, the May`s agreement faced significant opposition in the UK Parliament, with many MPs arguing that it did not go far enough to protect the UK`s interests. The agreement was rejected three times by Parliament, and Theresa May resigned as Prime Minister in July 2019.
In October 2019, a new agreement, known as the Boris Johnson`s agreement, was reached between the UK and the EU. This agreement made significant changes to the May`s agreement, including scrapping the Irish backstop and replacing it with a new protocol on Northern Ireland. The UK also agreed to leave the EU on January 31, 2020, and enter into a transition period until December 31, 2020, during which time a new trade deal would be negotiated.
In summary, the May`s agreement was a critical document in the UK`s departure from the EU, but it ultimately failed to gain parliamentary approval. The UK ultimately reached a new agreement with the EU in October 2019, which made significant changes to the terms of the May`s agreement. As the UK continues to negotiate its future relationship with the EU, it remains to be seen whether the May`s agreement will have any lasting impact on the country`s future.