The UK has finally reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) on the terms of their departure, known as Brexit. After months of intense negotiations, the two sides have agreed on key issues such as trade, immigration, and the future of the Northern Ireland border.

The agreement, which was announced on December 24, 2020, will come into effect on January 1, 2021. It marks the end of over four years of political uncertainty since the UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum in 2016.

One of the key elements of the agreement is the establishment of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and the EU. This means that there will be no tariffs or quotas on goods traded between the two sides, which should help to minimize disruption to businesses that rely on cross-border trade.

The agreement also includes provisions on areas such as fisheries, aviation, and law enforcement. However, there are still some areas that have not been fully resolved, such as the future of data transfers between the UK and the EU.

One of the most contentious issues in the negotiations has been the future of the Northern Ireland border. Under the agreement, Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK`s customs territory, but will also continue to follow some EU rules to ensure that there is no hard border with the Republic of Ireland. This has been a major concern for both sides, as a hard border could lead to a return of violence in the region.

Overall, the UK-EU agreement on Brexit is a significant milestone in the process of the UK leaving the EU. While there are still some unresolved issues, the agreement should help to provide some certainty for businesses and individuals on both sides of the English Channel. As always, copy editors must keep track of the changing political landscape to ensure that their content stays up to date and relevant.