Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom

The Ankara Agreement and Customs Union with Turkey will continue during the Brexit transition period of 2020, and the two countries will work to sign a bilateral free trade agreement to be put into effect as of Jan. 1, 2021, British Ambassador to Ankara Sir Dominick Chilcott said on Feb. 7.

Already in December 2016, I noted, the Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump as US president signified the end of Euro-Atlantic project as it had existed in the Western Balkans. The subsequent three years have borne out the truth of this assessment.

Flags fly outside parliament event at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

There are Romanians who have come to the United Kingdom because they found the prospects for a decent life there. Others have chosen British citizenship for cultural reasons - the love of Shakespeare. Some admit that if things do not go according to plan, they can always return home to Romania, and others know very clearly that the United Kingdom is their home for now.

The United Kingdom finally cast off from the European Union on Jan. 31 for an uncertain Brexit future, turning its back after 47 years on the post-World War Two project that sought to build the ruined nations of Europe into a global power.   

Turkey welcomed "the existing common political will" to further develop the relations with the U.K. after Brexit, the Foreign Ministry said on Jan. 31.

"In the new period, relations between Turkey and the U.K. will provide significant opportunities to enhance regional and global stability as well as both parties' interests," the ministry said in a written statement.

The United Kingdom finally cast off from the European Union on Friday for an uncertain Brexit future, turning its back after 47 years on the post-World War Two project that sought to build the ruined nations of Europe into a global power.

Greece described the day when the UK will officially leave the European Union as a "moment of sadness" and the beginning of a new relationship with the country in a statement issued Friday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said negotiations on Britain's future relations with the EU will not be easy and have vowed to help the EU succeed after Brexit, the Associated Press reported.

Britain's exit from the European Union tonight is "a difficult parting for all of us, the 27 EU Member States and Germany," Merkel said in a video message issued by her cabinet.

AGERPRES special correspondent Oana Ghita reports: Banners reading "Lead with facts, not leave with lies", "Let's make Brexit!", UK and EU flags - some stylized with lights instead of stars - were some of the props a group of several dozen gathered on Thursday evening near the British Parliament used to add some drama to their campaign.

The government's proposal to get power to hold a new referendum on Scotland's independence was backed by parliament, National reported.

A majority of MPs (64 to 54) voted in favor of the proposal, arguing that "a referendum must be held for the people of Scotland to decide whether it wants to become an independent state".