EU partners agree on terms for Brexit
Britain hails agreement as a big step forward
BRUSSELS — The European Union agreed on guidelines Friday that will govern negotiations on future relations and trade with Britain after Brexit, almost exactly a year before the country leaves the bloc.
The agreement was hailed as a big step forward by Britain, which only has months to seal sweeping agreements on trade, security and a host of other areas before it ceases to be an EU member.
At a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted that the “EU 27 has adopted guidelines for the future EU-U.K. relations.”
The document lays out the EU’S approach on issues including future security, defense and foreign policy ties, as well as the outlines of a future trade deal.
Britain may negotiate trade agreements with other countries after it officially leaves the bloc at midnight on March 29, 2019, but no pact can enter into force without EU permission before the end of December 2020, after a post-brexit transition. During that period, the country will remain part of the tariff-free single market and customs union even though it will be out of all EU decision-making bodies.
British Prime Minister Theresa
May said the transition period would give people and businesses time to prepare for life outside the EU, and she welcomed the EU green-light to future trade negotiations.
“I believe there is a new dynamic now in the negotiations,” May said as she left the Brussels summit. “I believe we are approaching this with a spirit of cooperation and a spirit of opportunity for the future as well.”
After kissing May’s hand in front of reporters, EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier welcomed the move, saying “we are taking a decisive step in this difficult and extraordinary negotiation.”