Page contents Page contents The Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2020. It ensures an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) and sets out clear rights and obligations for the EU and the UK. The full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework (formerly known as the Protocol on Ireland/ Northern Ireland), is a legal obligation under international law to which both parties have jointly and freely agreed. Properly implemented, the Withdrawal Agreement creates legal certainty and preserves the EU’s interests by, among others, protecting citizens’ rights, avoiding a hard border between Ireland/Northern Ireland and settling the UK’s financial obligations in relation to its withdrawal from the EU. Any agreement is only as good as it is implemented effectively. Implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement entails the adoption of legal acts by the European Union, its Member States and the United Kingdom, as well as implementation by adopting policies and measures related to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom. This also includes the responsibility to monitor the implementation by both Parties and to ensure compliance. The EU-UK Joint Committee, co-chaired by the EU (currently European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič) and the UK (currently UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly), is in charge of overseeing the implementation, application and interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement (art. 164(3)) as well as supervision of the six Specialised Committees, adoption of decisions and recommendations (art. 164(4)). The six specialised committees cover: Citizens’ rights Other separation provisions Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol on Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus Protocol on Gibraltar Financial provisions
