Norway signs Brexit agreement with the UK

The agreement safeguards the acquired rights of Norwegian and UK citizens in our two countries. Even though the UK will leave the EU at midnight on Friday 31 January, the relationship between Norway and the UK will not change until the end of the transition period. The transition period will last until 31 December 2020. Brexit will not affect Norway’s relationship with the UK in 2020.

‘Norway and the UK are close allies and partners. Our two countries have a long history of close ties and cooperation. In dealing with Brexit, the Government’s most important tasks are to ensure that the EEA cooperation continues to function well and to maintain close and constructive cooperation with the UK.  Now that Brexit is becoming a reality, it is to our advantage that there is a withdrawal agreement in place. I am confident that the agreement we have signed today will safeguard Norwegian interests and the rights of Norwegian citizens,’ said Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

At midnight on Friday 31 January, the UK will leave the EU. This will happen on the basis of the withdrawal agreement reached by the EU and the UK. Norway, together with Iceland and Liechtenstein, has negotiated a separate agreement with the UK, which covers the parts of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK that are also relevant for us. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide signed the agreement on behalf of Norway in London today.

(*) Agreement on arrangements between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the UK following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.pdf

(*) Statement on civil judicial cooperation.pdfAgreement on arrangements between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the UK following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.pdfStatement on civil judicial cooperation.pdf

Transition period

From 1 February 2020, the UK will no longer be a member of the EU, but a transition period has been agreed that will last until the end of 2020. During this period, the UK will be treated as if it were still a member of the EU and EEA. This means that our relationship with the UK, and the situation for Norwegian citizens and businesses, will remain unchanged in 2020. Business activity, various types of approval and authorisation, freedom of movement and other activities that took place under EEA rules before Brexit will continue as before throughout the transition period.

The transition period will last from 1 February to 31 December 2020, with the possibility of an extension if the EU and the UK agree to this. In March last year, the Storting (Norwegian parliament) adopted an act that makes the transition period applicable to Norway too. This act will enter into force on 1 February. 

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