What lies ahead after Brexit breakthrough

World
Europe

‍After 532 days of haggling, the Brexit deadlock was finally broken. British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker clinched a draft divorce deal in Brussels on Friday.

The historic deal has to be approved by the European Council before taking effect.

Twenty-seven EU member states are expected to gather in Brussels on December 14 and 15, to decide whether "sufficient progress” has been made on issues like the Irish border, divorce fee and the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.

But the deal is not the end of Brexit talks, as European Council President Donald Tusk puts it, building a new relationship is much harder than breaking up.

UK PM Theresa May and European Council President Donald Tusk meet in Brussels. /VCG Photo

Tusk has promised to propose the immediate opening of trade and transitional talks at the summit.

But with a deadline set in October 2018, negotiators do not have much time.

The EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said London is left with little choice after insisting on leaving the single market and customs union.

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier holds a press conference in Brussels. /VCG Photo

He said the best deal Britain can hope for might be similar to the agreement that Canada has with the bloc.

The two sides also have to find a way to maintain an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, while assuring the northern region is treated the same as other parts of the United Kingdom.

Tusk also warned that the UK must observe the whole of the EU law, including new laws before its final departure from the bloc.

Then if everything goes well, Britain will officially leave the European Union at 11 a.m. UK time on March 29, 2019.

7971km