EU approves British ‘Brexit’ deal

European Union leaders gave the nod to a Brexit deal at a summit in Brussels on Nov. 25, in a landmark decision that brings Britain’s formal exit from the bloc a crucial step closer.

The news comes after American media falsely reported last week that British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government was on the verge of collapse, along with exit plans for Britain.

The agreement comes after over 18 months of gruelling negotiations that began when the UK triggered the Article 50 withdrawal process in a 2016 referendum vote that the “Leave” side won by a margin of 51.89 per cent to  48.11 per cent.

European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker called Sunday’s endorsement of Brexit “a sad day,” saying that Britain’s departure was a “tragedy” and tough on both sides.

Leaders of 27 EU member states took less than an hour to rubber-stamp the 600-page treaty for Britain’s withdrawal and the 26-page declaration outlining future trade relations between the UK and the bloc.

The main text of the political declaration (pdf) said the EU and Britain “agree to develop an ambitious, wide-ranging, and balanced economic partnership.

“This partnership will be comprehensive, encompassing a free trade area as well as wider sectoral cooperation … will be underpinned by provisions ensuring a level playing field.”

British Prime Minister Theresa May now must persuade UK lawmakers to approve the deal. Many British members of Parliament have been vocal about their opposition.

“This is the deal,” Juncker told reporters on his way into the meeting, and expressed hope that May would manage to convince British lawmakers to sign off.

“I believe that the British government will succeed in securing the backing of the British Parliament,” Juncker said, and added that the EU would not be prepared to offer any further major concessions. “I would vote in favor of this deal because this is the best deal possible for Britain,” he added.

Still Friends

Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator on the EU side, called the package a basis for close future ties, insisting, “We will remain allies, partners, and friends.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose country is one of Britain’s closest trading partners, praised May’s handling of the difficult negotiations and said he was confident that she could see the deal through Parliament in the coming weeks.

But he also had a warning for those in May’s Conservative party as well as the Labour opposition who argue that a better deal can still be done before Britain leaves in four months if lawmakers deny her minority government support on Brexit.

‘Get on With Brexit’

In a “letter to the nation” released Sunday, May said she would be “campaigning with my heart and soul to win that vote and to deliver this Brexit deal, for the good of our United Kingdom and all of our people.”

“It will be a deal that is in our national interest—one that works for our whole country and all of our people, whether you voted ‘Leave’ or ‘Remain,’” she said.

The EU has repeatedly emphasized that the “four freedoms”—movement of people, goods, services, and capital—are indivisible foundation stones of the bloc. May sought a way to divide these in her Brexit plan, allowing free movement of goods, but restricting the free movement of people.

May reiterated that promise in Sunday’s statement, saying, “We will take back control of our borders, by putting an end to the free movement of people once and for all.

“Instead of an immigration system based on where a person comes from, we will build one based on the skills and talents a person has to offer.”

The prime minister said the agreement would allow trade to flow with minimal disruption.

British lawmakers are expected to vote on the deal in early December.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019.

– ET News Service