Much work to be done on final Brexit arrangements

The prospect of a no-deal Brexit, which disturbs many of our members, has receded thanks to the recent announcement of progress on a transitional agreement between the EU and the UK.

Now we know that, subject to agreement on other sticky points, there will be an implementation period and it will end on 31 December 2020.

Although Scotland’s fishermen are less than happy our waters will continue to be subject to a degree of EU control after Brexit, for many firms the agreement offers comfort they can plan ahead.

Many of our members are also reassured by the continued ability to recruit and retain European nationals during the transition period, a necessary soft landing for an economy like ours, which has become heavily reliant on continental talent for key industries like tourism and food processing.

The focus now shifts to securing agreement on existing free trade deals.

Business will play its part in signing new trade agreements alongside government, but a parallel priority must be to retain good market access with our existing partners. There is still much work to be done. The transition period is shorter than initially envisioned, which emphasises the need to put rhetoric aside and for both the European Commission and UK Government to keep up the momentum.