Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Each year there's a fierce debate among the economist staff as our editors and correspondence

nominate a country of the year. We take a look at a few contenders from the shortlist

and unveil the winner for 2020.

First up though.

Today, Britain's Parliament will vote on a post Brexit trade deal, one announced by Prime

Minister Boris Johnson last week.

Tonight on Christmas Eve, I have a small present for anyone who may be looking for something

to read in that sleepy post Christmas lunch moment.

That small present was the 1,255 page agreement that represents the end of long and torturous

negotiations.

This is a deal. A deal to give certainty to business travellers and all investors in our

country from the first of January. A deal with our friends and partners in the EU.

At several points as the clock ticks down to that new year deadline, an agreement had

appeared unlikely. So it was a relief to both sides, though European Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen struck a slightly less joyful note.

I know this is a difficult day for some and to our friends in the United Kingdom, I want

to say, parting is such sweet sorrow.

But the parting is only partly done. Nearly five years since the referendum, this framework

deal leaves lots of issues unresolved, even if the long-threatened no-deal scenario seems

to have been averted.

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