From Breakdown to Breakthrough: Let’s Talk About Brexit

European Union leaders and the United Kingdom have agreed a draft Brexit deal after furious negotiations and frequently acrimonious discussions that would take the UK out of the EU. Although both the UK and the EU are signaling victory, this is definitely not a done deal yet as they still need the approval of the British lawmakers and European parliaments. Moreover, British MPs had turned down Brexit deal reached by Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, three times.

The deal is very similar to May’s rejected withdrawal agreement. The main change is that the controversial Irish "backstop" contained in her previous Withdrawal Agreement is scrapped. Elements of the new deal crossed red lines that previous British leaders ruled out. British authorities will have to carry out custom checks in the Irish sea for goods moving inside their own country, as Northern Ireland would remain aligned with most EU regulations and trade rules. But the EU has compromised, too, and made significant concessions. Every four years, a quorum of Northern Ireland lawmakers would vote on whether they wanted to continue to be so closely aligned with the European union, offering a voice to the range of communities there.

 The revised withdrawal agreement keeps its existing provisions ,which would only come into force if the deal is ratified ,on sorting out the UK's financial obligations to the EU, and one protecting citizens' rights — those of EU nationals living in the UK and Britons in the EU .There have also been changes to the political declaration which sets out plans for the long-term relationship based on Free Trade agreement between the UK and the EU. But Only after Brexit can the EU and the UK start discussing the details of their new relationship. There will be more clarity on the new relationship between the EU and the UK only once this phase of the negotiations has been completed.