Photo: Reuters
EU leaders have agreed to move Brexit talks on to the second phase, says European Council President Donald Tusk, the BBC reports.
This means talks can move on to the long-term relationship between the UK and EU, including trade and security.
The first issue to be discussed, as early as next week, will be the terms of a transition period after the UK leaves in March 2019.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned this process will be “significantly harder”.
Mr Tusk tweeted the news after a meeting of the other 27 EU leaders in Brussels.
EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) December 15, 2017
He congratulated UK Prime Minister Theresa May on reaching what the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg said was a major moment in the Brexit process.
