The UK officially notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the EU on 29 March, 2017 in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on the EU. Starting on that day, the UK and the EU had a two-year period to negotiate an agreement setting out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal, taking account of the framework for their future relationship. According to the original timeline, the withdrawal was scheduled for 29 March, 2019 and the UK should have become a third country on 30 March, 2019. However, due to the political climate in the UK and the inability of the government and the parliament to agree on a clear Brexit strategy, the UK’s departure from the EU was significantly postponed. 

Ultimately, the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and is no longer a member state of the EU.  As of 1 January 2021, the relations between the EU and the UK are governed by the concluded agreements on the future relationship.