As the deadline for Brexit looms closer, one of the most pressing questions facing the UK and the European Union is what will happen if there is no deal. One of the key concerns is whether the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the UK and the EU is still valid if there is no deal. In this article, we will explore the answer to this question.
The Withdrawal Agreement is a legally binding document that was negotiated between the UK and the EU. It lays out the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU, including the financial settlement, the status of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU, and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Withdrawal Agreement was approved by the EU and the UK government, but it has not yet been ratified by the UK parliament.
If there is no deal, it is possible that the Withdrawal Agreement could be invalidated. This is because the Withdrawal Agreement is contingent on the UK and the EU agreeing to a future relationship. If there is no deal, there will be no future relationship, and the Withdrawal Agreement could be considered null and void.
However, it is important to note that the Withdrawal Agreement does contain some provisions that are not dependent on a future relationship. For example, the financial settlement, the status of EU citizens in the UK, and the status of UK citizens in the EU are all covered by the Withdrawal Agreement regardless of a future relationship. These provisions would still be legally binding even if there is no deal.
It is also possible that the UK and the EU could agree to some form of “mini-deal” that would preserve certain aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement. For example, the UK and the EU could agree to a temporary arrangement on the Northern Ireland border issue to avoid a hard border. This could be done through a separate agreement or as part of a broader agreement on a future relationship.
In conclusion, the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the UK and the EU is not necessarily invalid if there is no deal. While some provisions of the Agreement are contingent on a future relationship, other provisions are not and would still be legally binding. It is also possible that the UK and the EU could agree to a mini-deal that would preserve certain aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement. Ultimately, the fate of the Withdrawal Agreement will depend on the outcome of negotiations between the UK and the EU in the coming weeks.
