Steve Barclay is the United Kingdom’s secretary of state for exiting the European Union.
LONDON — It’s difficult to overstate today’s significance. As we mark the United Kingdom’s historic departure from the European Union, it seems like an appropriate time to reflect on the journey that has led us to this moment — and the path we hope to take from here.
For 47 years, the U.K. has been a member of what was initially the European Economic Community and later became the EU. In that period, the ties that bound us shaped our respective cultures, economies and societies.
But as time passed, the feeling grew in the U.K. that our relationship with the EU was no longer working. This was powerfully expressed in the Brexit referendum in 2016 — the largest democratic exercise in our history. And after years of parliamentary wrangling, last year’s election has given this government a powerful five-year mandate to honor that result.
As the ink dries on the Withdrawal Agreement that enables us to leave the EU in an agreed and orderly way, we should pause to recognize the spirit it embodies. Yes, there were times when the negotiations were fraught, but we overcame our differences with positivity and professionalism and achieved what many said was impossible. As the U.K.’s Brexit secretary, I witnessed first-hand the diligence and determination that shaped the talks on both sides.
The U.K. may have voted to leave the EU, but it is not leaving Europe or rejecting the values we share on this continent.
The agreement’s ratification and our long-awaited departure at midnight Brussels time tonight means that we can look to the start of a new relationship. It’s important to recall Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent words to parliament: We in the U.K. feel “a sense of love and respect for European culture and civilization, of which we are a part.”
The U.K. may have voted to leave the EU, but it is not leaving Europe or rejecting the values we share on this continent. Brexit will not diminish our contribution to wider European security. British troops on NATO operations will maintain their watch on the borders of our eastern allies, while our jets patrol the airspace above.
The tragedies of the 20th century commemorated across the continent this month remind us of the importance of our joint commitment to the peace, freedom and security of all European citizens. Whenever the call comes to defend those European values, you can expect the U.K. to answer.
Last year, my EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, said, “No matter what happens in the future, the links of friendship between our peoples will remain indestructible.” I couldn’t agree more. Our shared history will lay the foundation for a great future, as we meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the 2020s.
A future relationship between the U.K. and EU should be based on common values and interests, argues Barclay | Sean Gallup/Getty Images
When it comes to the U.K.’s future relationship with the EU, what we want is a partnership based on cooperation between sovereign equals, respect for our common interests and good faith. It must also be one in which we have the freedom to implement our bold vision for modern Britain — an economy based on high standards, championing innovation and the rights of the individual.
Brexit is not about turning our backs on European friends and allies, but an opportunity for the U.K. to free itself of the bureaucracy of the EU and forge a new path as an independent nation. The U.K. is coming out of the EU’s single market and customs union. We will be free from EU rules — after all, the point of Brexit was to take back control.
But at the same time, it’s in all our interests to maintain the flow of goods and understand what businesses need to succeed. We also want to continue to set high standards in workers’ rights and the environment, and we share a desire with the EU to build a secure, prosperous and sustainable future for all our citizens.
From this starting position, we should face no obstacle to reaching a mutually beneficial trade deal within the existing timeframe, that is by the end of the year. We want to negotiate our future relationship as quickly as possible. The immediate task for the weeks ahead is to get down to business.
We have shown what can be accomplished when both sides match ambition with determination. Now, with a renewed sense of purpose and energy, it’s time to write the next momentous chapter of the EU-U.K. relationship.