The leaders of the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) turned a historic page today by accepting the draft agreement on Brexit, making Great Britain the first country to leave the EU.
"The European Council has approved the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community," it is stated in the conclusions of the summit of the leaders of the 27 EU countries, adding that they want the closest possible relationship with London after Brexit.
The foundations of future relations are found in the "political declaration", a separate document that EU leaders also approved.
The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, stated on Twitter that the leaders of 27 countries approved the draft agreement as well as the political declaration, which is the basis for future relations between London and Brussels.
The leaders thanked negotiator Michel Barnier for his "tireless efforts and contribution to maintaining unity within the EU during the long negotiations" with Great Britain.
The minutes of the summit state that a fishing deal is a priority and that it will be negotiated with London before the end of the post-Brexit transition period, which is due to end in December 2020.
The accompanying documentation includes, among other things, a letter from a British official to the European Council, as well as a letter from the President of the European Commission and the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk to Spain. In that letter, guarantees are given that Spain will participate directly in future negotiations between the EU and Great Britain on Gibraltar.
London and Brussels have reached an agreement on the separation after 17 months of negotiations, and now it is the turn of the British and European parliaments to adopt it.
The British Parliament is supposed to discuss it in December, but there is uncertainty about the adoption of the document.
British Prime Minister Theresa May stated today in a letter broadcast in the media that she will try "body and soul to vote for an agreement that is for the benefit of Great Britain and the whole nation".
In a referendum on June 23, 2016, the British people voted to leave the Union. On March 29, 2017, Prime Minister May officially launched Article 50 of the Lisbon Agreement on the withdrawal procedure, after which negotiations were held on the terms of the separation of the two parties.
Junker: Tragedy, sad day; Barnier: The EU will remain a partner and friend with Great Britain
The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said today, after arriving at the EU leaders' summit in Brussels, that Great Britain's departure from membership is a "tragedy".
"It's a sad day," Juncker said, adding that leaving a country like Great Britain from EU membership is not "a moment to celebrate, but a sad moment, it's a tragedy."
European Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on the eve of the summit that the EU will remain a "partner and friend" with Great Britain after its exit from the EU.
Barnier said that during the "very difficult and complex negotiations" he always worked "with and never against Great Britain". The European negotiator called for "everyone to take responsibility now" as it is still uncertain whether the British parliament will vote on the draft agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said before the summit that Brexit shows the "fragility" of the EU, which needs revival.
"It is a serious moment for the EU," Macron said, adding that a "good deal" had been reached with London.
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