1st LD: EU leaders adopt guidelines on Brexit negotiations with Britain
Xinhua, April 29, 2017 Adjust font size:
The 27 European Union (EU) countries' leaders during their first summit since Britain triggered the Article 50 last month adopted unanimously the guidelines on Brexit negotiations with Britain, European Council President Donald Tusk said Saturday.
"Guidelines adopted unanimously. EU27 firm and fair political mandate for the Brexit talks is ready," Tusk tweeted.
"EU27 adopt Article 50 Guidelines in less than 15 minutes," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on his twitter account.
According to the European Council guidelines for Brexit negotiations, throughout the negotiations the EU will maintain unity and act as one with the aim of reaching a result that is "fair and equitable for all member states and in the interest of its citizens."
While working hard to achieve that outcome, the EU "will prepare itself to be able to handle the situation also if the negotiations were to fail," the guidelines show.
The EU says it will will update the guidelines on Brexit in course of negotiations as necessary.
The two year timeframe of Brexit negotiations set out in Article 50 ends on March 29 of 2019. Endit