EU member states endorse Brexit trade deal
A colleague wears a Christmas hat as European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier (centre) carries a binder of the Brexit trade deal during a special meeting of Coreper, at the European Council building in Brussels, Dec 25, 2020. (Photo: AP/Olivier Hoslet)
BRUSSELS: The 27 EU member states gave the green light on Monday for the post-Brexit trade deal to go into effect on Jan 1, a spokesman said.
Ambassadors from EU capitals met in Brussels to nod through the accord, using a procedure which will take effect at 3pm (2pm GMT) on Tuesday.
This will provisionally allow tariff-free trade with Britain to continue after it leaves the EU single market at the New Year.
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Sebastian Fischer, spokesman for the German presidency of the EU, said: "EU Ambassadors have unanimously approved the provisional application of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement."
The member states' adoption of the plan allows it to come into effect in time to head off disruption of cross-Channel trade.
But the deal must still be ratified retrospectively by the European Parliament, probably in late February.
