European Union leaders on Sunday approved a historic Brexit
deal, holding out hopes of close future ties even as one declared
Britain’s withdrawal after four decades a “tragedy”.
The 27 leaders of the bloc met without Prime Minister Theresa
May to endorse the agreement, which sets the stage for Britain exit
from the bloc on March 29.
“EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political
Declaration on the future EU-UK relations,” European Council
President Donald Tusk tweeted, as the leaders waited for May to
join them.
Arriving for a special summit in Brussels, European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the bloc’s executive arm,
said it was a “sad day”.
“To see a country like Great Britain … leave the EU is not a
moment of joy nor of celebration, it’s a sad moment and it’s a
tragedy,” he said.
Michel Barnier, the former French foreign minister who
negotiated the deal on behalf of the bloc, added: “We will remain
allies, partners and friends.”
May, who arrived in Brussels on Saturday evening for final talks
with Tusk and Juncker, was due to join the other leaders later in a
highly symbolic moment.
Forged during 17 months of tough negotiations, the withdrawal
agreement covers financial matters, citizens’ rights, Northern
Ireland and arrangements for a 21-month post-Brexit transition
phase.
A short political declaration that accompanies the text sets out
hopes for future security and trade ties.
But it is not the final stage, as the House of Commons in London
must still approve the deal — and many MPs have warned they will
not back it.
Until the agreement is approved, all sides are still planning
for the potentially disastrous possibility that Britain leaves the
EU with no new arrangements in place.
– No renegotiation –
Media reports in London on Sunday suggested some of May’s own
ministers were secretly working with EU diplomats on a “Plan B” in
case parliament rejected the agreement next month.
But Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the
rotating EU presidency, said: “It is important that everyone in the
UK is aware that the result that is now available is the
result.
“It will certainly not be renegotiated and there will be no
further room for manoeuvre.”
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte added: “Overall, I think this is
the max that we can all do, both Theresa May and her government as
well as the European Union.
“No victors here today, nobody winning, we’re all losing — but
given that context, this (agreement) is acceptable.”
– ‘Reduce risks and losses’ –
Tusk said on the eve of the summit that “no-one will have reasons
to be happy” when Brexit happens, but he said the terms agreed
would “reduce the risks and losses”.
In London, eurosceptics in May’s Conservative party and their
Northern Irish allies warn they will not support the agreement,
which they argue keeps Britain too close to the EU.
But in an open “letter to the nation” on Sunday, May said it
delivered on the 2016 referendum vote to leave, and was a “deal for
a brighter future”.
Britain remains deeply divided over the decision, but the prime
minister said that finally leaving could be “a moment of renewal
and reconciliation”.
“To do that we need to get on with Brexit now by getting behind
this deal,” she said.
– Tensions on Gibraltar, fishing –
The summit risked being derailed by a late objection to the deal by
Spain over the British territory of Gibraltar.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez threatened to reject it unless his
country kept a veto over future changes to EU ties with “The Rock”,
which borders Spain and which it has long claimed.
The impasse was resolved when Britain promised to continue
bilateral talks with Madrid after Brexit — although that itself
caused further tensions.
Sanchez claimed that discussions would cover the
“co-sovereignty” of Gibraltar, but May rejected this.
There are concerns in EU capitals about fishing rights and
commercial rules Britain must follow to maintain access to the
bloc’s markets.
A diplomatic source said the minutes of Sunday’s summit meeting
of the 27 leaders would record those concerns.
AFP.
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