EU leaders on Sunday announced Britain's exit from the continent's political and economic bloc, sending the divorce agreement back to the British parliament and a controversial debate over its passage.

The agreement, negotiated over several months, has sparked skepticism from fans and enemies of Brexit in England.

"It's the best deal possible," warned European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after the vote. "It's the only deal possible."

If the British thought they could push for a better deal, they would be disappointed, said Juncker.

British Prime Minister Theresa May stressed that the agreement gives Parliament control over the borders, money and laws of his country. She urged members of Parliament to approve the plan when they vote on December 12.

May promised to campaign "with all my heart to win this vote … for the good of our United Kingdom and all of our people".

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"I will pass this agreement to the House of Commons, confident that we have secured the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country," said May.

May declined to announce that she would resign if her contract with Brexit failed. She got support from her government, split in two, for a draft agreement last week, after months of talks and setbacks.

Even the minister who led the negotiations, Dominic Raab, refused to support the deal and resigned last week. Raab said he could not support the deal "in good conscience" as it "represents a very real threat to the integrity of the UK".

The agreement provides that the UK pays the EU about 39 billion pounds as part of the separation. It also allows EU citizens and their families to live and work in the UK until the end of the transition period in December 2020. Those who settle before that date will be allowed to stay permanently if they remain for five years.

A transitional period for companies is delaying major changes until 2021. Tariffs and other business regulations still need to be worked out.

Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London who was behind the success of the Brexit referendum in 2016, called the terms of the agreement "historical mistake". He said that the EU had too much power under the agreement and suggested retaining half of the money from the buyout pending a free agreement -exchange.

Britain voted to leave the EU between 52% and 48%. Some survey data indicate that if there was a second vote on Brexit, a majority would choose to stay in the EU. May has repeatedly rejected the idea of ​​holding a second vote.

"We have before us the difficult process of ratification as well as the continuation of the negotiations," said EU President Donald Tusk, announcing the agreement. "But whatever the end of events, one thing is certain: we will remain friends until the end of days and one more day."

Contributors: Kim Hjelmgaard

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