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Today marks exactly one year until the United Kingdom is expected to formally leave the European Union.

A transition period will follow, but Brexit day will arrive on March 29, 2019, 46 years after Britain joined the bloc.

Some 52 per cent voted for the divorce in a referendum in June 2016.

And Brexit remains on track after a transition period deal was agreed last month, allowing negotiations on the final terms to begin.

The key dates to come

April

Talks could start on a future trade and security deal as early as next month.

European chief negotiator Michel Barnier has previously stated he wants all talks on a future relationship to be wrapped up by October.

October 18-19

A quarterly EU summit that is Barnier’s target date to agree a withdrawal treaty, tying off legal loose ends for departure, such as the rights of citizens, mutual financial commitments and how to keep the Irish border fully open.

It will also contain the transition deal and be accompanied by a separate “political declaration” outlining the broad terms of a free trade accord and other relationships to follow after that.

January 2019

The EU and British parliaments must ratify the withdrawal treaty before Brexit. To avoid last-minute jitters, getting that done at least two months ahead of time would help.

March 29

At midnight in Brussels, 11pm in London, Britain’s membership of the EU will lapse, two years to the day after it formally filed notice to quit.

If there is no ratified withdrawal treaty, there will be legal chaos unless all sides agree to a complex special extension.

March 30

If things go to plan, Britain will start a transition period, during which the UK can start negotiating its own trade deals.

However it will still be party to existing EU trade deals with other countries.

The UK will effectively maintain access to EU markets and be bound by all EU rules and budgets, while losing its vote. It will be consulted on some issues.

During this period, EU citizens arriving in the UK will enjoy the same rights and guarantees as those who arrived before Brexit. The same will apply to UK expats on the continent.

December 31, 2020

The proposed transition period ends, with Britain free to implement its own trade deals with other countries and free of all obligations to the Union.

January 1, 2021

If all goes to plan, a new EU-UK free trade deal would take effect, along with special treaty relationships in areas such as security, defence and research.