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UK Deal with EU Becomes Law as Queen Give Royal Assent; Freedom of Movement Changes for British Citizens; European Officials Formally Sign Off on Deal; Florida Elderly Face Long Waits to Get Vaccine; Building a New LaGuardia Airport. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired December 31, 2020 - 04:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:30:00]

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ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Isa Soares live from our CNN studio in London where it's just gone 9:30 in the morning.

And staying here in the U.K., the topic of Brexit has been a heated debate, as you can imagine, for so long. It's almost hard to believe it is actually finally happening. The post-Brexit bill is now law with the Queen having the last word. She gave Royal Assent this morning. Just hours from now, the realities of the new arrangement will begin to sink in for British, as well as European citizens.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES (voice-over): When the clock strikes midnight, Britain and the European Union finally divorce. After many months of bitter negotiation, the two blocks begin a new relationship, as sovereign equals.

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Glad tidings of great joy.

SOARES (voice-over): Not always a joyous affair. A deal was settled just days before the December 31st deadline leaving businesses little time to assess the practical implications of the 1,200 page agreement.

Under this new deal, the U.K. will continue to enjoy zero tariff and zero quota access to the EU's single market and that means no taxes on each other's goods when they cross borders. And no limits on the amount of things that can be traded.

So what's changing? Freedom of movement. British citizens will no longer have the right to live and work in the EU without the necessary documentation and vice versa.

And how about those precious holidays? Vacations remain visa-free but British travelers will only be allowed to spend 90 days after out of every 180 in the EU while the U.K. will allow European citizens to stay for up to six consecutive months. This represents perhaps the most tangible consequence of the breakup. And the renowned British love of queuing faces its toughest test. No longer allowed to use EU gates, they must use the "All Passports" line instead.

Michelin star chef Pascal Aussignac says Brexit killed a dream that brought him to London 22 years ago.

PASCAL AUSSIGNAC, CHEF & RESTAURANTEUR: British people are not working in the hospitality sector, so we need to find people from Europe. And, actually, because of the Brexit going on there are better way of staying in their own country than moving to London.

SOARES (voice-over): Students bear the separation too, no longer able to move between universities as part of the Erasmus program. EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier called it a failure for the British people and a choice made by the British government.

JOHNSON: With this bill, we're going to become a friendly neighbor, the best friend and ally the EU could have.

SOARES (voice-over): Brexit might now be over. But a divorce of this magnitude puts inevitable strain on the pair's future relationship.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES (on camera): Let's talk now with Salma Abdelaziz in London and Cyril Vanier in Paris. Salma let me start with you. How is the U.K. preparing for this moment that many, not all, I may add, have been looking forward to? What should we look forward to in the next 24 to 48 hours?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Well, Isa, in some ways, coronavirus restrictions have sped this preparation forward. So let's just go with what's in the rule, no tariffs, no quotas, right. But you also have issues right now with how freight and cargo go across the channel into the EU. We have seen that play out just a week ago along the port of Dover. Where new restrictions were put into place. So all of that will be playing out.

Of course, you no longer have the freedom of movement.

[04:35:00]

So now that means, of course, British citizens will have to get visas, if they want to work, travel and study in the EU. They'll have to stand in a different passport line -- the non-EU line. So that could potentially cause some cues and confusion, some chaos at places like the Eurostar when people are trying to board planes to go to France.

And of course most critically, we're going to see businesses and families trying to figure out these new rules, these new restrictions. Now one of the criticisms of this trade deal is there's very little about the service industry which makes up about 80 percent of the British economy. So a lot of questions as well will be asked. And it is important to remember this was a deal that was reached on Christmas eve, more than 1,200 page document so a lot of information that everybody has to get through before this all goes into place tonight -- Isa.

SOARES: And very briefly, Salma, how quickly, though, are we going to start seeing those changes? Is this immediate or is this going to take some time, you think?

ABDELAZIZ: It should be immediate. It is immediate. I mean, there was a one-year transition period, so the transition period is over. Ties will be severed at 11:00 p.m. tonight. These changes will happen. But even the government has warned this will be a bumpy road. There will be more bureaucracy, and more red tape. They'll be a lot to figure out -- Isa.

SOARES: Thanks Salma. Cyril, Europe in some ways must be relieved not least because the negotiations after almost five years have finally ended. What has been the reaction from Europe, and how does this change or reshape the block?

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well first of all, you're absolutely right that Europe is relieved. Going into these negotiations a number of years ago, I think the main criteria, two main criteria, were protect the unity of the European Union. That is mission accomplished. They showed remarkable cohesion during the years' long negotiation. Everything being channeled through their negotiator, Michel Barnier, no fissures among the group. Nobody doing side deals with the U.K. So unity of the EU, that has been achieved. Check.

Number two, they wanted to protect their economy, the single market and the customs union of the European Union is arguably their most precious good and their biggest achievement. They had to protect that. They had to protect their economy and their businesses. They feel they have done that. So check and check.

The other thing is the European Union is there were fears earlier that this could spur other countries to want to also exit the European Union. You know, there was talk of Frexit, Grexit, there was another word for the Italian potential exit. Finally all of those concerns appear for the moment to have been averted as there is no more talk of that within the block at this juncture.

SOARES: Yes, and Cyril, I know you mentioned this briefly in the last hour when you took my line, but European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, she said -- and I'm quoting her. We are putting Brexit behind us.

You mentioned there's no fear of fragmentation. Is that because the block is now focused on really on much more important really crisis they have on their hands and that is COVID?

VANIER: Yes, absolutely. This is a grim end to a grim year. Not many of the European countries, in fact, I think none of the European countries have COVID under control at this stage. The ray of light coming from the vaccination program which is a little bit more advanced than the U.K.

AstraZeneca vaccine if and when it is approved in the EU is really going to be a game changer because trying to vaccinate 450 million people with the Pfizer vaccine and the cold chain and the logistics that it implies, I mean, that's just very, very difficult to do.

So at the moment, you're right, the top story here in the EU is COVID, it is the vaccination program, and it is possible lockdowns coming as early as January after the holiday season -- Isa.

SOARES: Cyril Vanier for us in Paris, Salma Abdelaziz in London. If I don't see you in the coming hours, which I probably won't, because of the tiers, I wish you both a happy new year.

Now in the last hour, if you remember, I talked with John Rentoul, the chief political commentator from the British newspaper, "The Independent," and I asked him if this is a win for the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the U.K. here's part of my interview with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN RENTOUL, CHIEF POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, THE INDEPENDENT: It's a triumph for Boris Johnson, absolutely no question about it. Huge, personal victory for him.

I mean, four and a half years ago he tended to tentatively decided to put himself at the head of the referendum campaign to leave the EU and now, nearly five years later, he's done it. He is prime minister, and he's gotten us out of the EU, and he signed the trade deal that a lot of people were skeptical about.

But whether it's a victory for the country depends on --

SOARES: Yes.

RENTOUL: -- your point of view. Half the country didn't want to leave. Half the country did. So, it divides us right down the middle.

[04:40:00]

SOARES: Yes, and I think it's fair to say -- and correct me I'm wrong, John -- that leaving the EU was never really about economic proposition, but rather such an emotionally charged political one. So, what challenges does the U.K. face going forward now that it is in control of its sovereignty?

RENTOUL: Well you know, you are absolutely right. It wasn't primarily an economic argument. It was a question of sovereignty and the fact that people didn't like free movement of people because they thought that the nation state or (INAUDIBLE) decide who comes and who goes? And that was a very strong feeling.

Now the question is, how much of an economic price do we have to pay for that? And that, of course, is going to be difficult to assess in the middle of a coronavirus recession. But the -- what we don't know is what kind of disruption there will be at the border, especially the Dover Calais border on January the 2nd -- because I mean, January 1st is a bank holiday.

SOARES: Yes, exactly, these are the things that we will all be looking at and likely harder to tell because of coronavirus as well and the restrictions. But, you know, you're pointing on something, you touched on something I think really struck me throughout our conversations over the years, is that this is been such an emotional issue, John, for so many. It has divided the nation for nearly five years. Like you said it split families and brought down two conservative prime ministers.

Do you think it will never cease to divide the country?

RENTOUL: It won't be a shock, the division from now on. I mean, the Labour Party yesterday had to come to terms with this deal. Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition, asked his MPs to vote for it. So, there was a huge majority for it in the House of Commons. But it will go on being an issue.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES (on camera): Thanks to John Rentoul there from "The independent."

And still ahead this hour, Florida is rolling out COVID vaccinations for its most vulnerable residents. But getting the shot can be a long process. We'll explain after a very short break. You are watching CNN.

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[04:45:00]

SOARES: The U.S. state of Florida has now put its elderly residents at the front of the line for COVID vaccinations. But there is a limited amount of the vaccine leading to long wait times. Ryan Young has the story for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This bumper-to- bumper traffic jam twist around the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, a line so long, drivers have more than enough time to get out and stretch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to be patient, but it's a good setup.

YOUNG (voice-over): Not just in Orlando. Elderly Floridians across the state anxious to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are dealing with a similar situation. In Fort Myers, many bringing lawn chairs as they sit and wait for hours, nine, to be exact, for this man.

BRUCE SCOTT, VACCINATED AFTER 9-HOUR WAIT: I personally feel there's got to be a better way.

YOUNG (voice-over): Because Florida has one of the largest populations over the age of 65, Governor Ron DeSantis decided to break slightly with CDC recommendations, which call for frontline health care workers and first responders to be vaccinated first.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): We believe that the better approach is to focus on the elderly first and foremost. Then we'll get into essential workers.

YOUNG (voice-over): The vaccine much-needed in the Sunshine State, which has seen dark days this year, more than 21,000 COVID deaths so far, many of them seniors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know people that have not survived.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately.

YOUNG (voice-over): But the problem is, all 67 counties are handling the vaccine rollout differently, creating some confusion.

SCOTT: While I'm grateful to get the vaccine, I feel that there's got to be a better way to distribute this. For people that really need it, elderly that might be disabled in some way, they can't endure this process. So there's got to be a better way.

YOUNG: The issues not restricted to long lines. Some seniors have heard the vaccine is available, and started showing up at hospitals, only to get turned away, while others flood hospital phone lines looking to make appointments.

In South Florida, Broward Health says they have already booked up with vaccine appointments and won't take on more patients until February.

Back in Orange County, 30,000 people signed up within 24 hours on the county's Web site. They vaccinated more than 1,500 seniors on the first day, a dose of hope during this awful year.

CANDICE SELTZER, COVID-19 VACCINE RECIPIENT: Great. I can't wait to see my grandkids. I can't wait to hug those little guys. It's like -- it's just been so long in coming, that -- so relieved. It's just wonderful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just feeling very blessed right now.

YOUNG (voice-over): Ryan Young, CNN, Orlando, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Now, New York's LaGuardia Airport has been compared to facilities in third world countries and the pandemic has just made things worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Deserted check in, empty concourses, this isn't what they had in mind.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SOARES: A redesign of New York's LaGuardia Airport is expected to cost $8 billion. Officials hope new services, art installations and topnotch security will silence critics of the much maligned airport. Our Richard Quest has all the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST (voice-over): Welcome to LaGuardia. Long considered one of the worst airports in the United States. For decades, it's been a sore point for New York commuters. Now it's making an $8 billion bet on repairing LaGuardia's reputation once and for all.

RICK COTTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY: New Yorkers love to criticize, they love to hate. I think if you looked at every single passenger survey, LaGuardia was always the worst, so the challenge, first of all, was to take it from worst to first.

QUEST (voice-over): It has one of the worst on time records in the country. Travelers say it's amongst the noisiest, most outdated, that's difficult to get to. Little wonder, given the central terminal building hasn't changed much since it opened in 1964.

Officials in New York gave LaGuardia's restoration the green light in 2015. After a wakeup call from the then Vice President Joe Biden.

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT: If I took him blindfolded on a trip to LaGuardia Airport in New York, you must think I must be in some third world country.

QUEST: That had ramifications. That was almost like firing the starting code.

COTTON: It was. Many people were unhappy at that comment. Governor Cuomo took it as a challenge. And that was the impetus to create the advisory panel and the project was off and running.

QUEST (voice-over): LaGuardia's reopening comes at a difficult time. Passenger numbers have plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic as states impose strict quarantines. And many countries shut their borders to international travelers.

COTTON: At the beginning of the crisis back in March the passenger levels at this airport and all three of our airports dropped 98 percent. There was 2 percent of regular passengers using these airports. We are still down 75 to 80 percent in terms of travel through these airports.

QUEST: Deserted check in, empty concourses, this isn't what they had in mind when they started the $8 billion reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport. One of the most overcrowded and grubby in North America. Now look at it, brand spanking new, gleaming with facilities galore, just waiting for post-COVID passengers.

QUEST (voice-over): New York's port authority is doing all it can to lure travelers back to its airports, even offering free COVID tests to arriving passengers here at LaGuardia.

[04:55:00]

But with the increased foot fall comes bigger health risks. When they do return to LaGuardia, passengers will find an airport completely transformed.

COTTON: That the airport should be inspiring, it shouldn't just be functional. So art becomes a center piece, and you have five major artistic installations.

QUEST (voice-over): LaGuardia's transformation is almost complete. The terminal won't fully reopen until 2022. When it does, officials are opening it begins a new chapter for both LaGuardia, the aviation industry, and the passengers who travel here.

COTTON: LaGuardia has gone from the worst airport in the country to what we think is best in class. And it not only is best in class in terms of function, it is inspiring. It is appealing, it has works of art, and it speaks to where it is located, which is New York, and that was what we wanted to build.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Richard Quest there with that report.

And that does it for me for today. Thank you very much for watching. I'm Isa Soares, I want to wish you a wonderful and healthy new year. May the trials, the tragedies and the tears come swiftly to an end in 2021.

If you are looking for something to do, be sure to watch our New Year's Eve special, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will welcome 2021 in style, live from Times Square. There won't be the usual crowds, as you can imagine, but surely a night to remember. Party starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern live here only on CNN.

And do stay with CNN. "EARLY START" with Christine Romans is next, bye, bye.

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