Draft Brexit Deal to Pave Way Toward Close EU-UK Relations in Future - EU Parliament
President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani expressed hope on Thursday that the draft agreement on the conditions of the UK divorce from the European Union will pave the way toward a close future relations between London and the bloc.
"The text agreed to by the European Union and United Kingdom is the first step on a long road. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that it will pave the way towards a close future EU-UK relationship. As I have always said, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union, not Europe," Tajani said in a statement.
Following more than a year of tough talks on Brexit conditions, London and Brussels finally completed a draft agreement on Tuesday. Late on Wednesday, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier revealed the contents of the provisional deal, which included agreements on citizens' rights, London's financial settlement, future trade relations, transitional period in the London-Brussels relations and the Irish border issue, among other things.
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday that this draft agreement is now analyzed by all EU members. By the end of this week, the ambassadors of the 27 remaining EU countries will meet to share their assessments of this document.
According to Tusk, the European Council will hold a meeting to finalize the Brexit agreement on November 25 as long as nothing unforeseen happens. Prior to entering into force, the agreement on London's withdrawal from the bloc, will have to be coordinated by the European Parliament and the UK Parliament. The EU Parliament plans to vote in early 2019, according to Tajani.
The United Kingdom voted in favor of Brexit in 2016 and is set to depart from the European Union by late March 2019.