Urgent legislative measures concerning Brexit

Today, 31 December 2020, the transitional period set out in the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (“Withdrawal Agreement”) expires, thus giving final effect to the Brexit.

In order to deal with the situation resulting from the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, the Spanish Government has approved Royal Decree Law 38/2020 of 29 December (“RDL”), which adopts, inter alia, certain urgent and temporary measures to protect the interests of citizens and economic operators who may be affected by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal. Most of the provisions of the RDL enter into force tomorrow, 1 January 2021, the date on which the United Kingdom will be treated as a third country for all purposes.

The most significant measures taken by the government in relation to the UK’s effective exit from the EU are set out below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise indicated in the rule, all measures in favour of UK nationals are conditional on the granting of reciprocal treatment by the UK authorities competent in the matter.

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