Brexit today – as it happened: EU leaders give Theresa May the go ahead to move to second phase of talks
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Your support makes all the difference.European leaders have formally agreed to move to the next stage of the Brexit negotiations after deeming “sufficient progress” has been made on key issues.
It now provides Theresa May with the green light to discuss “transitional arrangements” with the EU 27 and the overall framework for the future relationship.
Announcing the breakthrough at a news conference, the European Commission President Donald Tusk also said “congratulations” to the Prime Minister on the new progress.
After meeting with her EU counterparts on Thursday, Ms May flew back to the UK in the evening after attending the EU summit, where she spoke over dinner of her wish to move to the next stage of the talks.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the applause came because “some of us felt, including me, that she did make a big effort and this has to be recognised”.
Back in her constituency on Friday, Ms May declared she is “well on the road” to delivering Brexit after the crucial agreement was formally reached.
She said Britain would be “beginning the talks about our future relationship straight away”, adding: “There is still more to do but we are well on the road to delivering a Brexit that will make Britain strong, prosperous and secure.”
This liveblog is now closed but you can see Friday’s developments below.
Here's the latest from Jon Stone in Brussels about the Brexit talks, and what today's breakthrough means.
Brexit-backing MPs have begun to react to the news, led by Brexit Secretary David Davis who said it was "an important step for Britain".
We are now waiting for a press conference between from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, on the meeting.
In the meantime, the Press Association has filed a helpful timeline on what happens next.
December
- December 19 - The Cabinet will discuss what sort of long-term relationship they want Britain to have with the EU after it has withdrawn from the bloc.
- December 20 - Ministers face the prospect of a second Commons rebellion on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill over plans to write the Brexit date into law.
2018
- Winter/spring - Negotiations on the transition to future EU/UK relations, along with "exploratory talks" on a possible free trade agreement.
- March 22-23 - European Council summit in Brussels. An opportunity to assess what kind of trade deal can be expected.
- May - English local government elections will provide the Prime Minister Theresa May with her first widespread electoral test since the disastrous snap election of June 8 2017.
- October - A final treaty on withdrawal and transition should be ready by this point in order to allow time for ratification before the end of the two-year Article 50 deadline. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier says that it is only at this stage that the "real negotiation" on a free trade deal will begin, and that the parties will be "hard pressed for time" to conclude this before the March 2019 date of Brexit.
2019
- Winter/spring - Ratification process involving as many as 38 national and regional parliaments, with any of them effectively holding a veto.
- Brexit Secretary David Davis has promised that Parliament will have to approve any deal in a Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill, although this will be on a "take it or leave it" basis. MPs will consider the legislation before MEPs in the European Parliament carry out the final vote on any agreement.
- March 29 - Two years after the invocation of Article 50, the UK ceases to be a member of the EU and is no longer subject to its treaties, whether or not a withdrawal agreement has been reached. Because the exact moment of exit is midnight Brussels time, the UK is due to leave at 11pm on March 29. Under the terms of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, the bulk of Brussels legislation would be automatically transposed on to the UK statute book.
Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable has issued a statement pushing for voters to have their say on the terms of the final deal.
He said: “Now comes the hard part.
"The outcome of these talks will affect jobs, living standards and prices for years to come.
"Yet with just over a year to go, the Cabinet still can't even agree on what they want the final deal to look like.
“The people must have a say on the terms of any deal, including the option of an Exit from Brexit.”
Number 10 is pleased with the phrasing of the text, according to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also released a statement welcoming the move, but he says the Government's "chaotic handling" of Brexit has delayed progress.
He said: “It is welcome that the European Council has at last agreed to move to the crucial second stage of the Brexit negotiations.
“However, this should have happened months ago. The truth is that the Government’s chaotic handling of the Brexit talks has hindered progress, fuelled uncertainty and risked economic damage.
“Theresa May must learn from her mistakes, put the needs of the country before her party and prioritise negotiating a future relationship with the European Union that puts jobs and the economy first.”
In a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the decision to move on to phase two represented "quite significant progress".
She said: "Phase two may now be ushered in, but obviously that is an even tougher piece of negotiation than we have had up to now.
"The good news is that all 27 member states so far have put in tremendous efforts, have stood together, and I am very optimistic that we will continue to go forward in quite the same spirit."
Mr Macron agreed, adding: "We managed to keep the unity of the 27, the integrity of the single market, compliant with our rules.
"In the future we will do what it takes to do the same."
Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker are now delivering a joint press conference.
Tusk focuses mainly on other issues such as migration, but praises the "constructive effort" of Theresa May and the hard of work of negotiators like Michel Barnier when speaking about Brexit.
He said: As for the framework for future relations, it is now time for internal EU27 preparations and exploratory contacts with the UK to get more clarity on their vision.
"On that basis, we should adopt guidelines and start negotiations next year.
"I trust that the unity on the EU side will continue."
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