Leaders of the European Union on Friday gave the green light to moving on to the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, in which they will discuss trade deals with the UK once it leaves the bloc.
At an European Council summit attended by the heads of state and government of the 27 EU member states, not including British Prime Minister Theresa May, they agreed that enough progress had been made in the first phase.
The initial phase covered the border between the UK and Ireland, the so-called divorce bill and the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa.
"EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of Brexit talks. Congratulations PM Theresa May," European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted.
The Council also agreed to negotiate with the UK a two-year transition period throughout which the country would no longer be a member of the bloc and would not be able to participate in any decision-making within EU bodies, agencies and offices, nor nominate, select or vote for members of institutions, the BBC reported.
But the UK would still be part of the Single Market and Customs Union and subject to EU law.
May had previously suggested that such a period could last around two years and the Council said it would take this into consideration.
The EU27 highlighted that all regulatory, budgetary and judiciary instruments would still be applicable to the UK, including the competence of the Court of Justice of the EU.
Nonetheless, the leaders agreed that they were ready to forge new ties with the UK after Brexit, Efe news reported.
"The European Council welcomes the progress achieved during the first phase of negotiations... and decides that it is sufficient to move to the second phase related to transition and the framework for the future relationship," according to guidelines approved by the Council led by Tusk.
But negotiations in the second phase can only progress as long as all commitments undertaken during the first phase are respected in full and translated faithfully into legal terms as quickly as possible, the guidelines stated.
The second phase will be focused on post-Brexit relations between London and Brussels, primarily the transition period after the UK's exit in March 2019 and any potential future trade agreements.
Commenting on the approval, May thanked Tusk and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Twitter, saying: "Today is an important step on the road to delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit and forging our deep and special future partnership."
Germany's Angela Merkel said it would get "even tougher".
Echoing May's optimism, Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis tweeted: "Today is a good day for Brexit and an important step for Britain... We have reached an important milestone and have achieved sufficient progress. There is still lots of work to come but we are ready for the next stage."
The approval came two days after the European Parliament welcomed the Joint Brexit Progress Report presented by EU and British negotiators on December 8.
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