this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. this is bbc news, the headlines. a new era in the uk's a new era in the uk's relationship relationship with the european union, as the formal with the european union, separation is completed. as the formal separation is completed. there'll be changes to travel, trade, immigration there'll be changes to travel, and security co—operation. trade, immigration and security co—operation. people are being warned to expect some disruption in the coming weeks people are being warned to expect as the new rules bed in. some disruption in the coming weeks as the new rules bed in. the uk's chief medical officers defend the plan to leave 12 weeks we'll be answering your questions between coronavirus vaccine doses, on what the changes mean for travel after criticism from doctors. with a consumer expert and a travel guide publisher. and bringing in the new year — from new york to scotland, and bringing in the new year — cities and countries from new york to scotland, countries adjust their celebrations adjust their celebrations to fit their covid conditions. to fit their covid conditions.

hello and welcome to you if you're now on bbc news, wejoin daniela relph for a look watching in the uk or around the world and welcome to bbc news. a new era has begun for the united kingdom, after completing its formal separation from the european union — leaving the single market and the customs union at the end of the brexit transition period. under the new arrangements, there will be no import taxes on goods crossing between britain and the continent. the government has warned there will be some disruption in the coming weeks as new rules bed in for travel, trade, immigration and security co—operation. northern ireland will remain in the eu single market for goods, and will apply eu customs rules at its ports. borisjohnson said the uk had "freedom in our hands" and the ability to do things

"differently and better". france's president macron said britain would remain a friend and ally, but he described brexit as the child of "many lies and false promises". jessica parker has this first report. big ben chimes big ben marking the hour last night. boris johnson described it as an amazing moment for the country. it is one that some will regard with huge optimism, others with deep regret. but for brexit supporters, a long fought cause coming to fruition. all decisions will be made in the house of commons through a system of transparency and accountability. i used to say to my constituents, i'll give you £100 if you can name me any of the members of the european parliament that represent you, and haven't lost a penny. the last ship leaving dover before the new rules kicked in. the uk left the eu last january, but it was yesterday evening that the transition period ended and largely brought that

departure into effect. new border checks are coming in. change is here. unfortunately, because of the late negotiation of the deal, many of the actual details of how these checks will be done, and what the documentation looks like, have still not really reached those who are going to be working under them, and still worse, those who are going to enforce them. on new year's day there is expected to be relatively little freight traffic. the immediate impact of brexit in some areas may be less instant or obvious than others. nevertheless, significant changes are here, whether on trade, travel, immigration or security. civil servants of my generation have spent the last 40 years trying to remove obstacles to working, living, travelling to europe. and tonight, those obstacles, many of them, are coming back. life will get more difficult, more expensive, more cumbersome, dealing with europe. muted new year celebrations

across the uk last night. and while coronavirus continues for now to shut down much of society, those changes brought by brexit could well become more apparent in the months ahead. jessica parker, bbc news. well, yesterday — officials at the port of calais said that after three years of preparation, they were confident they had everything needed in place for brexit. bethany bell is at calais. does it look like things are running smoothly? so far, yes. but as expected, there is very little freight transport happening today. it isa freight transport happening today. it is a public holiday, and also many companies in britain have stockpiled ahead of this period. but the french authorities do say they are prepared. they say they have employed a lot more people. they have built new parking places for lorries, and if they have to stop and go through extra checks. but they say while their system seem to

be in place and seemed to be working so be in place and seemed to be working so far, one of the key issues is whether companies, exporters, fill in the correct paperwork, whether they showed the right documents when they showed the right documents when they arrive here in calais, because if they don't have the right documents, then that is when we might see delays happening. it is interesting driving from paris to calais yesterday there were big signs along the motorway warning of possible disruption because of brexit but people here say if there are to be disruptions, they are more likely to surface in mid january when business starts coming up again, although they really hope he, they say they hope things will go smoothly and that they want to keep things moving. 0k, bethany. thank you. let's talk to the conservative mp and deputy chair of the european research group, david jones. hello to you, mrjones, and happy

new year to you. this year i guess has a special meaning. what is today mean for you? well, today is the first day of our complete independence from the european union. technically, when we were independent on the 31st ofjanuary last year, but of course we have just gone through the transition period and now that is completed so we can say absolutely clearly that britain is a sovereign, independent state. what do you mean by complete independence? because clearly there will be an ongoing relationship, and an important relationship, and there are details about the future relationship still to be worked out. well, yes, that is quite true. but the cooperation agreement that was signed on christmas eve, agreed on christmas eve, between the uk and the european union makes it absolutely clear that both parties are sovereign, absolutely clear that both parties are sovereign, so we absolutely clear that both parties are sovereign, so we are no absolutely clear that both parties are sovereign, so we are no longer for example subject to the

jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice, plus jurisdiction of the european court of justice, plus of jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice, plus of course if we ever did wish to leave those arrangements, we could do so on 12 months notice, so there is no doubt that that agreement has restored the independence of the country.“ someone was independence of the country.“ someone was to independence of the country.“ someone was to ask independence of the country.“ someone was to ask you today what are the other clear advantages of being in this position now, what would you say to them?|j being in this position now, what would you say to them? i think the principal advantages are going to be seen principal advantages are going to be seenin principal advantages are going to be seen in terms of world trade. there isa seen in terms of world trade. there is a very slow —— make the eu is a very slow moving entity and agreements can take an awfully long time. since we left at the end of january last year, we have concluded over 63 trade agreements around the world and have been looking to strike an agreement with the transpacific partnership, strike an agreement with the tra nspacific partnership, so strike an agreement with the transpacific partnership, so i think that now we will be a far more global trading country than we were as members of the european union. we won't be constrained by the customs union. and of course we have the added benefit of access to the

single market from the agreement that was concluded on christmas eve. but what about northern ireland? there still is the irish sea border there. you talk about we won't be constrained, but from your perspective there must still be constraints because of that. yes. there is no doubt that the northern irish element is the most troubling element. that of course u nfortu nately was element. that of course unfortunately was the consequence of the very poor deal that the previous british administration concluded with the european union. michael gove has done sterling work...“ borisjohnson gove has done sterling work...“ boris johnson puzzling gove has done sterling work...“ borisjohnson puzzling deal really that different from the deal that theresa may had ? that different from the deal that theresa may had? yes, it is considerably different because for example we are not part of the customs union, which was partly chequered declaration, as you know, so chequered declaration, as you know, so it is considerably different, but you are right, we do have more work to do in northern ireland. as i say, michael gove is doing good work in thejoint committee, michael gove is doing good work in the joint committee, but we do need to ensure that the people of northern ireland it has many

benefits of the british departure as the rest of the country, and of course we must remember the people of northern ireland committee decision as to whether or not they wa nt to decision as to whether or not they want to remain constrained by those arrangements. a phrase that boris johnson once used in a speech prior to all of this was that he did not wa nt to all of this was that he did not want anything to happen that would damage the fabric of the union. are you concerned, given the different arrangements in northern ireland and also the words of nicola sturgeon, leave the light on current europe, scotla nd wa nts leave the light on current europe, scotland wants to rejoin. concerned about what will unfold and we have yet to have the new arrangements will work out and how that might impact on the integrity of the union? well, as i have said, i have acknowledged that the northern irish element does need to be addressed, but as far as scotland is concerned, you have to remember that the snp is a party that feeds on the politics of grievance and that is what they

will try to stoke up, but they have had their referendum. it was quite clearly decided in 2014. the people of scotla nd clearly decided in 2014. the people of scotland decided that they wanted to remain part of the uk, and i think... like and they also wanted to remain in the eu, didn't they? that is the way that they voted, but that was a uk wide poll, but i do acknowledge and where i come from in wales, the politics of devolution do need to be addressed in the united kingdom government now has got a great challenge to ensure that every pa rt great challenge to ensure that every part of the united kingdom reaps the benefits of leaving the european union. 0k, david jones. thank you very much for your time today. deputy chair of the european research group. customs checks are being stepped up on goods crossing the channel between britain and france for the first time in decades as britain adjusts to life outside the european union. the channel crossing was reportedly quiet as the new year holiday weekend began.

but the rupture with europe means more paperwork for hauliers, and significant changes to travel, security and migration. joining me now to get more on this is our business presenter ben bland, and things seem to have gone to plan? hgppy happy new year. is everyone who needs to be ready ready with this, with all the paperwork and other things i have to get their heads around? i suppose when it comes to new year bosman resolutions, the uk and eu had won big in for trade between them and that was to goods flowing smoothly too and fro and the reason that is important is if you ta ke reason that is important is if you take the example of carmaking, factories in the uk need to make sure that the parts that they may import, say from france or germany, arrive on time so that production doesn't stall on the production line. equally, when some of those ca rs are line. equally, when some of those cars are ready to be shipped over to the continent, to be sold in europe, they want to make sure they can get them to showrooms and customers on

time as expected and that applies to so time as expected and that applies to so many physical goods that cross between the uk and europe. and that is why there was a much better to get that radio done because once the uk left the eu last night, that is a flow of goods was no longer a given, and it seems to be working so far. there have been no reports of any hold—ups at the ports, no major hold—ups. the first lorries crossing to europe and in the direction of the uk seemed to pass through without significant delay. and because of the deal we know there will be no import taxes, so there will be no import taxes, so there will be no dublin prices for customers, but as with all new year's resolutions, the question is will be encouraging start last into january and beyond ? let's speak to david henig, director of the uk trade policy project, at the european centre for international political economy, a think tank focused on international trade. good to have us has. what do you

make of how things are going? well, we expected a quiet start to the new year. not too much traffic normally on the year plus monday, so good that the traffic is still moving. we have heard of a few lorries that did not have the right paperwork going between holyhead and ireland, so already a few glitches. but there will be times when there will be delays because there art now checks and there were no checks before. i think the aim of both parties in signing the deal is to minimise the number of times that there are such delays and problems. but we won't be surprised if there are some in the future. and what you think the most important thing is to focus on in terms of trade both in goods and services from this point on? well, there are now a number of barriers to trade between the uk and the eu that were not there before and that is likely to have some sort of impact on the uk economy and what we make and what we sell to the eu and

what we import from the eu. and we will be looking at the figures as they evolve over the coming months. it might not be dramatic, but it might be what we would properly expect as he is a small decline in trade with the eu, perhaps made up for globally, not necessarily. it may just be a for globally, not necessarily. it mayjust be a small decline. at some of that will be covered up by obviously there is not so much trade going on at the moment because of covid, so unravelling all of those figures will take some time, but we can expect to see changes. it is just a matter of what exactly they are. anyone who has been watching over the past few days may accuse me of being a broken record when it comes to banging on about services, but that is such an important part of the uk economy. do we not have any more clarity on what is happening on that front, say banking services, insurance, that get sold across the channel? well, services isa across the channel? well, services

is a complex area. it is not like goods where you have one single thing you can focus on in terms of terrace and then you can talk about the nontariff barriers. in services, there are different barriers each different area, whether it is financial services or i have been reading about musicians who want to tour the eu, donovan will be affected in a slightly different way, so financial services, we expect to hear in the next three months about a dialogue with the eu and about some equivalents the eu will grant us but there will also be lots of changes in operational structures or financial services companies. unclear what that will have as an effect on trade or economic figures but other areas of services we can look at, whether legal services perhaps are others that will be affected in different ways. and probably what i would be expecting to see is as we see the barriers they will become prominent and it will be down to the government to try to see if they can fight solutions. there is already

we re fight solutions. there is already were going on i understand on the issue of musicians struggling to get work permits for european tours. not such a big issue right now but could become so. 0k, david, thank you very much indeed. david with the tantalising prospect of live music. imagine that! lets hope 2021 heralds that for us. i have almost forgotten what that experience is like and we are all desperate to get back to experiences like that, aren't we? here's hoping. the latest headlines on bbc news. a new era in the uk's relationship with the european union, as the formal separation is completed. there will be changed to travel, trade, immigration and security cooperation. people are being warned to expect some disruption in the coming weeks. and bringing in the new year — from new york to scotland, cities and countries adjust their celebrations to fit their covid conditions.

the deal has been done and the uk has formally separated from the eu. so what has changed? many aspects of the uk and the european union's future relationship remain uncertain — but we already know some things will change, so we're answering all your questions related to travel and brexit. with me is rory boland, travel editor at consumer association which? and also i'm joined by rene frey, ceo, at insight guides and rough guides. rene and rory, thank you very much. rene, i will begin with you. we have this question, i plan to retire in spain at 60. is there anyway i can still do this or am i stuck in the uk now? he asks. , thank you very much for having me. i think he is

still in a good position but he will need to apply for a residence permit in spain. that will unfortunately require some documentation about how you are going to fund your life and more administrative challenges, but i think more administrative challenges, but ithink in more administrative challenges, but i think in principle it should be possible for you to live in spain. 0k, still possible. a mark obligated process. 0bviously, that will be of huge interest to lots of people because of the enormous amount of travel between the uk and spain. yes, mark obligated. 0k, rory, this from joy. i was born in northern ireland, now living in wales. can i getan ireland, now living in wales. can i get an irish passport and will it help me travel into europe? nice, simple answer to this. almost certainly, yes. and yes it will help you travel. passport rules on the island of ireland are done on an ireland basis, so if you were born in northern ireland, you're almost certainly entitled to an irish

passport. the rules changed slightly into thousand five. if you were born after then, you need an irish parent. most people will still be able to apply in northern ireland. so you should be able to get one and it will give you benefits. the key one being that uk passport holders are now treated as third country arrivals into the eu. it is not a big problem at the moment because there are so few flights, but when we do get back to a more normal situation, there are lots and lots of arrivals. if you have an eu passport, you will be able to use the eu queue to get in. if you have got a the eu queue to get in. if you have gota uk the eu queue to get in. if you have got a uk passport, you will have to got a uk passport, you will have to go to the other queue and there is the possibility that those clues could be very long. there is a numberof other could be very long. there is a number of other benefits as well from having the eu passport, travelling to the eu, so definitely worth doing and lots of people have done it in the past few years. 0k, the next one is from gillian. i will put the 20 you, rene. gillian says,

we are retired with a camper van and used to travel extensively in europe over long periods. what documentation will be no need to ta ke documentation will be no need to take ourcampervan documentation will be no need to take our camper van across to the eu? i think first you have to be careful. you may stay only 90 days in any one period in the eu. for more, you will need a visa or a residence permit. for the camper van, you will need a green insurance card. it is called a green insurance ca rd card. it is called a green insurance card because it is issued on green paper. i think now it is mostly in black—and—white but it is a simple document that confirms you have insurance coverage and it is required the eu. 0k, gillian, i hope that helps with your query. the next one for you, rory, that helps with your query. the next one foryou, rory, is that helps with your query. the next one for you, rory, is from player, who says will argue health insurance ca rd who says will argue health insurance card still be valid? some good news on this. a last—minute deal was

done. i think it might even have been on christmas eve. but things are a little bit confusing. european health insurance cards, if you have one, will continue to be valid, and thatis one, will continue to be valid, and that is wheelie great news. it gives you access to free or reduced cost health care across the eu. you essentially get access to the health ca re of essentially get access to the health care of local residents. so if you have got that card, that will continue to work. you can't apply for a new one. continue to work. you can't apply fora new one. it continue to work. you can't apply for a new one. it will ultimately be replaced by something called the global health insurance card. it looks very similar in practice, although we have very few details on it at the moment. in between is a little bit confusing. so if you don't have a european health insurance card, you can't yet get the global health insurance card. the government is saying that you can phone the nhs. they have an overseas phone number and they will give you an interim certificate that you can get to the hospital or the health care provider and it will give them proof that you don't have

to pay. i think thinking about it practically if you are in a hospital in poland or you are going into a health care place in italy, you may not —— they may not know about this. it has only been out for a few days and the information may not be there. i was travelling to europe in there. i was travelling to europe in the next few months, i would make sure that i had complaints of health insurance as well. until this is i doubt. belt and braces. belt and braces. good advice, ithink. rene, from calvin, who asks my daughter is british and attends university and amsterdam. what will change for her asa amsterdam. what will change for her as a result of brexit? well, good news. she is already living and studying in the netherlands so she would follow under the withdrawal agreement, so that is good news. this means basically nothing will change for her after the transition period if use continues to live and study in the netherlands. she will still be entitled to student finance

and statutory tuition fees. so this applies even if she starts a new course after the 31st of december, 2020, so that is good news for new students. unfortunately, then it will get much mark e. so hopefully because she is already there, that isa because she is already there, that is a big advantage. rory, veronica has been in touch to say i am england and my husband is. we live in spain. what will change, will be be subject to different time limits on our state each year as my husband has a swedish passport? you will, unfortunately. rene touched on this earlier. 0ne unfortunately. rene touched on this earlier. one of the biggest changes for uk passport holders is the 90 daysin for uk passport holders is the 90 days in 180 days that you are allowed to be in the european union. let me try and put that in kind of lame and's terms. that would mean if you went to spain and spentjune,

july and august there, the full three months, as many people do with their holiday homes, you wouldn't be able to go back for christmas because you would have already used the 90 days that you are allowed within the 180. it is really important that you don't break this rule. if you do, there is a little bit of a grace period of three days or so. bit of a grace period of three days or so. if you were to break it, would you be —— you would be banned from the eu for perhaps six months or year, so from the eu for perhaps six months or year, so it is important to pay attention to the time that you spend in those countries. we are almost out of time. two very quick answers to these questions. robert says he isa to these questions. robert says he is a british antique dealer living in france. he buys and sells in the uk and france, crossing into the uk ina uk and france, crossing into the uk in a small van. what are the rules for small importing and exporting and what paperwork might be involved? you will certainly need declarations and a certificate of origin because you crossed the border. it isjust origin because you crossed the border. it is just paperwork that

you will need to do. that'll come with competition and cost. but possible. rory, from carol, travelling to norway in april, stopping off in other countries along the way, has been told that she needs a pcr vaccine 72 hours before she arrives in norway, but is it possible to do this while travelling, do the rules differ if you are travelling to other eu countries. i can give a brief answer by saying april is a really long way away in terms of how quickly events are unfolding. away in terms of how quickly events are unfolding! away in terms of how quickly events are unfolding. i wouldn't worry about it too much at the moment. we will see where we are with vaccines and with tests and things may look very different by the time april rolls around. we certainly will have to follow the rules of the countries that you are passing through as you go. i think that is a good idea and just notice that norway is letting its ban on flights from britain to stop the spread of the more contagious variant of coronavirus.

thank you very much to you and thank you to the viewers for sending in their questions. hello. and especially cold start to the new year in england. as low as -6 -7 the new year in england. as low as —6 —7 earlier on. —3 across parts of southern scotland. could be a cold night. same sort of temperatures across eastern parts of northern england too. so even though we have had the northerly wind, slightly less cold air has been drifting along with it. or in the way of sleet and snow, mainly over the hills in scotland later. showers and sweet mixing across england and wales, plenty of cloud and brightening up later on. scotland and northern ireland compared with yesterday, a much sunnier day. the conditions dominate across england and wales where the mist and fog was earlier and grey clouds lingering and temperatures struggling to get

above freezing. it will be a damp evening and night across southern and south—eastern parts of the uk. showers for eastern scotland. showers for eastern scotland. showers for eastern scotland. showers for northern ireland as well. and still some sleek and snow in the north of scotland. temperatures widely below freezing. could be some ice around. temperatures lowest in southern scotla nd temperatures lowest in southern scotland into saturday morning. this is the set up for saturday. when slowing clockwise so high—pressure to the west. a northerly flow with us to the west. a northerly flow with us still. that continues to bring showers to northern scotland and some for northern ireland. showers wintry across scotland but we will tee some sleet and snow mixed and which will develop in eastern counties of england through the day, particularly over the hills. showers returning to the far west of wales and across cornwall. many of you will have a dry, bright and crisp day. temperatures 2—5 at best, so chilly. into saturday and sunday, high—pressure shifts. low pressure to the and east. an easterly airflow will develop which means the showers

will develop which means the showers will drift a little bit further west. could turn to sleet and snow over the high ground. we lose those in wales and south—west england. many western areas finish the day on sunday staying dry and sunny. temperatures up a degree or so on saturday's values. and once that easterly wind sets in, it will be with us for much of next week. windy conditions were in wales which will make it feel cold. certain areas have less cold air. a lot of what false from the sky in the form of showers will be rain but it could turn to sleet and snow at times, particular over the hills. it will 00:28:34,222 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 stay on the cold side.