The European Council adopted conclusions on the state of play of Brexit negotiations

The European Council yesterday, 25 November, adopted conclusions on the state o play of Brexit negotiations. EU27 leaders met for a special meeting of the European Council (Art.50) on Sunday 25 November 2018. They endorsed the Brexit withdrawal agreement, as presented by the negotiators of the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Leaders also approved the political declaration on future EU-UK relations, which accompanies and is referred to in the withdrawal agreement.

Conclusions

These are the main points:

1. The European Council endorses the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community. On this basis, the European Council invites the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement can enter into force on 30 March 2019, so as to provide for an orderly withdrawal.

2. The European Council approves the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The European Council restates the Union’s determination to have as close as possible a partnership with the United Kingdom in the future in line with the Political Declaration. The Union’s approach will continue to be defined by the overall positions and principles set out in the previously agreed European Council’s guidelines. The European Council will remain permanently seized of the matter.

3. The European Council thanks Michel Barnier for his tireless efforts as the Union’s chief negotiator and for his contribution to maintaining the unity among EU27 Member States throughout the negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

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