A letter signed by British Prime Minister Theresa May, officially confirming the UK’s departure from the European Union, was delivered on Wednesday to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council by Tim Barrow, the UK’s ambassador to the EU.
First page of the letter.
The letter formally triggers Article 50, starting the two-year negotiation process that will end with the UK leaving the EU. Nine months have passed since the referendum that saw British voters opt to leave the EU bloc, which the country joined in 1973.
UK: ‘No turning back’
Now is the time for Britain to come together and ensure it gets the best Brexit deal possible, May told parliament on Wednesday after triggering Article 50.
This is a historic moment from which there can be no turning back, said May.
"It is our aim to deliver a smooth and orderly Brexit, reaching an agreement about our future partnership by the time the two-year Article 50 process has concluded," she noted.
EU: ‘No reason to pretend this is a happy day’
There is no reason to pretend that this is a happy day, either in Brussels or London, said Tusk after he received the letter.
Earlier, the European Council president confirmed he had received Britain’s letter announcing its intention to quit the EU in a tweet: “After nine months, the UK has delivered.”
Screenshot of Twitter
The beginning of Brexit
The trigger of Article 50 means Britain should officially leave the EU no later than April 2019.
For the next two years, Britain will thrash out a deal for leaving the EU, a process that's likely to be lengthy and complicated. So what has happened and will happen?
CGTN Photo
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