A letter from the EU to the UK: our future partnership will be based on existing links and shared beliefs

Despite Brexit, the two entities will be mindful that they are bound by history, geography, culture and a tryst with multilateralism

Commuters walk across London Bridge in view of Tower Bridge in London. Despite Brexit, the EU insists deep links still exist between itself and the UK. Bloomberg

On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union. We lost a member of our family. It was a sad moment for us, for European citizens – and, indeed, for many British citizens.

Nevertheless, we have always respected the sovereign decision of 52 per cent of the British electorate, and we now look forward to starting a new chapter in our relations.

Emotions aside, February 1 turned out to be historic but also undramatic. This is largely thanks to the withdrawal agreement that we negotiated with the UK, which enabled us to secure "an orderly Brexit". One that – at least for now – minimises disruption for our citizens, businesses, public administrations, as well as for our international partners.

Under this agreement, the EU and the UK agreed on a transition period, until the end of 2020 at least, during which the UK will continue to participate in the EU’s customs union and single market, and to apply EU law, even if it is no longer a member state. During this period, the UK will also continue to abide by the international agreements of the EU, as we made clear in a note verbale to our international partners.

So, with the transition period in place, there is a degree of continuity. This was not easy given the magnitude of the task. By leaving the union, the UK automatically, mechanically, legally, leaves hundreds of international agreements concluded by or on behalf of the union, to the benefit of its member states, on topics as different as trade, aviation, fisheries and civil nuclear cooperation.

We now have to build a new partnership between the EU and the UK. That work will start in a few weeks, as soon as the "EU 27" – the 27 member states – has approved the negotiating mandate proposed by the European Commission, setting out our terms and ambitions for achieving the closest possible partnership with a country which will remain our ally, our partner and our friend.

The EU and the UK are bound by history, geography, culture, shared values, principles and a strong belief in rules-based multilateralism. Our future partnership will reflect these links and shared beliefs. We want to go well beyond trade and keep working together on security and defence, areas where the UK has experiences and assets that are best used as part of a common effort. In a world of big challenges and change, of turmoil and transition, we must consult each other and cooperate, bilaterally and in key regional and global fora, such as the United Nations, the WTO, Nato and the G20.

It is perhaps a cliche but the basic truth is that today’s global challenges – from climate change, to cybercrime, terrorism or inequality – require collective responses. The more the UK is able to work in lockstep with the EU and together with partners around the world, the greater our chances of addressing these challenges effectively.

At the very core of the EU project is the idea that we are stronger together; that pooling our resources and initiatives is the best way of achieving common goals. Brexit does not change this and we will continue to take this project forward as 27.

Together, the 27 member states will continue to form a single market of 450 million citizens and more than 20 million businesses. Together, we remain the largest trading bloc in the world. Together, at 27, we are still the world’s largest development aid donor.

Our partners can be sure that we will stay true to an ambitious, outward-looking agenda – be it on trade and investment, on climate action and digital, on connectivity, on security and counterterrorism, on human rights and democracy, and on defence and foreign policy.

We will continue to live up to our commitments. We will continue to stand by the agreements that link us to our international partners, such as our economic partnership with the UAE among others, and we will continue to develop multilateral cooperation frameworks around the world.

The EU will continue to be a partner you can trust, and a steadfast defender of rules-based multilateralism, working with our partners to make the world more secure and fair.

Josep Borrell is the European Union minister for foreign Affairs and Michel Barnier is the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator