Brexit is the process of the United Kingdom's (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU). At midnight on 31 January 2020 CET (respectively, on 1 February 2020, at 01:00 Latvian time), the UK withdrew from the EU. Under the Withdrawal Treaty, a transitional period had entered into force from 1 February to 31 December 2020, during which the United Kingdom no longer was a member of the EU but continued to be subject to EU rights and obligations. During the transition period negotiations continued on the future of EU-UK relations or relations between the parties starting with the 1 January 2021 as stated in the 17 October 2019 Political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Withdrawal Treaty which came into force at midnight of 31 December 2020 provides a framework for the UK’s commitments which it took up as an EU Member State. The Treaty also provides for a gradual transition to the UK’s status as a third country (outside the EU) in order to ensure a smooth withdrawal process.
On 24 December 2020 an agreement was reached between the UK and the EU on future relations after the end of the transitional period starting from 1 January 2021. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as questions and answers on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement are available on the European Commission's website.
In order to prepare for changes caused by brexit, national preparedness measures have been taken in Latvia. To find out more, please visit the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (available in Latvian). In addition, a common e-mail address brexit@mfa.gov.lv has been created, where residents and entrepreneurs can ask relevant questions.