Stanley Johnson told broadcaster RTL on Thursday that he was in the process of ``reclaiming'' his French identity.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the day ``marks a new beginning in our country's history and a new relationship with the EU as their biggest ally.''

Brexit, in essence, takes place at the strike of midnight Thursday in Brussels -- an hour earlier London time -- when the U.K. leaves de-facto membership of the European Union.

The transition period ends at midnight Brussels time -- 11 p.m. in London -- on Thursday.

Businesses were scrambling Monday to digest the details and implications of the 1,240-page deal sealed by the EU and the U.K. on Christmas Eve.

The transition period, under which Britain stayed aligned to the EU's trading and regulatory rules, ends at 2300 GMT on Dec. 31.

The 27-nation bloc staged a co-ordinated rollout aimed at projecting a unified message that the shot was safe and Europe's best chance to emerge from the pandemic.

Britain clinched a narrow Brexit trade deal with the European Union on Thursday.

Reuters reported on Dec. 18 that the two sides were very close to concluding a temporary arrangement.

The EU's executive commission gave the green light just hours after the European Medicines Agency said the vaccine meets safety and quality standards.