2nd LD Writethru: EU leaders adopt guidelines on Brexit negotiations with Britain

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."

"The Union's overall objective in these negotiations will be to preserve its interests, those of its citizens, its businesses and its member states," the guidelines say.

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.

Though the EU reiterates its wish to have Britain as a "close partner" in the future, it underlines that "a non-member of the EU, that does not live up to the same obligations as a member, cannot have the same rights and enjoy the same benefits as a member."

The EU says it will will update the guidelines on Brexit in course of negotiations as necessary.

The two year time frame of Brexit negotiations set out in Article 50 ends on March 29 of 2019.

The British government triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on March 29 this year, which allows for the opening of negotiations as foreseen by the Treaty. Endit