This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50084450

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Brexit deal: What just happened? Brexit deal: What just happened?
(about 1 hour later)
UK and EU leaders stood on a stage in Brussels on Thursday and declared that a Brexit deal had, finally, been done.UK and EU leaders stood on a stage in Brussels on Thursday and declared that a Brexit deal had, finally, been done.
Negotiations had gone on past the supposed deadline, and top officials had thought it was far too late, but in the end, it happened. Negotiations had gone on past the supposed deadline, and top officials had thought it was far too late, but in the end it happened.
Except this is Brexit – and of course, it's not that simple.Except this is Brexit – and of course, it's not that simple.
Here's what's happening.Here's what's happening.
A Brexit deal has been agreed. Does that mean it's all done?A Brexit deal has been agreed. Does that mean it's all done?
No. No. Any deal needs to be approved by the UK Parliament and across the EU. The last time this happened, UK PM Theresa May failed to get her deal approved three times by the House of Commons before resigning.
Any deal needs to be approved by the UK Parliament and across the EU. The last time this happened, UK PM Theresa May failed to get her deal approved three times before resigning.
The new PM, Boris Johnson, has geared his entire leadership around getting Brexit done by 31 October.The new PM, Boris Johnson, has geared his entire leadership around getting Brexit done by 31 October.
But he still faces the same battle to get a divided parliament to agree to his deal. But he still faces the same battle to get a divided Commons to agree to his deal.
And to make matters more complicated, he needs to get it done on Saturday to avoid a third Brexit extension.And to make matters more complicated, he needs to get it done on Saturday to avoid a third Brexit extension.
Boris Johnson says he has struck "a great new deal" to accomplish Brexit - but still faces an uphill struggle.Boris Johnson says he has struck "a great new deal" to accomplish Brexit - but still faces an uphill struggle.
If that sounds familiar, it's because we've been here before.If that sounds familiar, it's because we've been here before.
Leaving the EU is not as simple as it sounds. There are trade deals, travel restrictions, citizens' rights and more to think about.Leaving the EU is not as simple as it sounds. There are trade deals, travel restrictions, citizens' rights and more to think about.
So a "divorce agreement" was drawn up after a year and a half of negotiations. So a "divorce agreement" was drawn up after 18 months of negotiations, and presented to the UK Parliament a year ago. It was to be rejected three times.
But it was rejected three times in the UK Parliament.
The main sticking point was the Irish border between the UK and EU after Brexit.The main sticking point was the Irish border between the UK and EU after Brexit.
The UK and EU agreed a "backstop" - a guarantee there would be no return to a hard border with checks, police, or soldiers - because of decades of violence in Northern Ireland in the past. The UK and EU agreed a "backstop" - a guarantee there would be no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with checks, police, or soldiers - because of decades of violence in Northern Ireland in the past.
But the "backstop" could mean a customs border "in the sea" between Britain and Northern Ireland - something many in the UK saw as dividing the country. The backstop could have meant Northern Ireland being treated differently from the rest of the UK - or, as in the final draft, the entire UK staying "aligned" with the EU.
Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (or DUP) was fiercely against either option - and the party remains a key source of votes needed to get a deal done.
Boris Johnson took over as UK prime minister in 2019, promising that the UK would leave on 31 October no matter what.Boris Johnson took over as UK prime minister in 2019, promising that the UK would leave on 31 October no matter what.
He insisted he could renegotiate the first deal, to get rid of the problematic backstop.He insisted he could renegotiate the first deal, to get rid of the problematic backstop.
After weeks of negotiations that seemed to be going nowhere, another deal was struck on Thursday.After weeks of negotiations that seemed to be going nowhere, another deal was struck on Thursday.
The EU's top negotiator declared the backstop has been abolished. But not everyone is happy with the replacement.The EU's top negotiator declared the backstop has been abolished. But not everyone is happy with the replacement.
The new deal means Northern Ireland will stick to some EU rules, while technically still being in the UK customs area. Crucially, some checks will still take place between Britain and Northern Ireland.The new deal means Northern Ireland will stick to some EU rules, while technically still being in the UK customs area. Crucially, some checks will still take place between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Four years after it comes into effect, Northern Ireland's politicians will have a say on whether to keep the deal going.Four years after it comes into effect, Northern Ireland's politicians will have a say on whether to keep the deal going.
The EU is expected to agree to the new deal, if Ireland is happy.The EU is expected to agree to the new deal, if Ireland is happy.
Mr Johnson has until Saturday 19 October to get his deal across the line in the UK Parliament - or else he is legally required to request an extension to Brexit.Mr Johnson has until Saturday 19 October to get his deal across the line in the UK Parliament - or else he is legally required to request an extension to Brexit.
MPs in London will decide whether to sit on Saturday to debate the deal in the first Saturday session since 1982 - and that was at the start of the Falklands War.MPs in London will decide whether to sit on Saturday to debate the deal in the first Saturday session since 1982 - and that was at the start of the Falklands War.
So now, everyone is waiting to see if Mr Johnson can sell this new deal to a sceptical UK Parliament. So now everyone is waiting to see if Mr Johnson can sell this new deal to a sceptical UK Parliament.
But Mr Johnson's allies from Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party, do not like the deal and say they will vote against him. And the main opposition Labour party says the deal doesn't address its concerns either. But Mr Johnson's allies from Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party, do not like the deal and say they will vote against him. And the main opposition Labour Party says the deal doesn't address its concerns either.
And even if this deal falls apart and an extension is asked for, there's no guarantee the EU will give one.