EU. European leaders approve Brexit plan, holding December vote in UK Parliament, where it faces fierce opposition

BRUSSELS – European leaders announced Sunday their split from Britain, approving an agreement defining the terms of their divorce after more than two years of flagrant quarrels between London and the rest of Europe.

The agreement will now pass in the British Parliament for a vote of approval whose outcome is uncertain, and the plan could still collapse before the official release of Britain from the United Kingdom. 39, European Union, March 29, with or without agreement. But it was still a pivotal opportunity for four years as Britain is a member of the European club and its two years of effort to leave it.

The agreement will almost certainly entail high costs for both parties, and some US. Leaders said they felt Sunday's deal was a tragedy. The deal, unanimously approved by the remaining 27-member executives, would leave Britain in the legal void – obliged to follow most US rules but no longer a member – until the end of 2020, as leaders argue for the coming relationship.

"Nobody wins. We are all losing because of the departure of the United Kingdom, "said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on his way to the meeting.

Under the terms of the agreement, Britain will face a $ 50 billion bill to pay its financial commitments. It will be bound to EU Laws and Regulations in place for years in some areas and its ability to negotiate its own trade agreements – a key Brexiteers claim that led a successful rebellion against the established order in 2016 – could be strictly limited. But he will no longer be obliged to allow US citizens to live and work within its borders, and British Prime Minister Theresa May has sought to promote this as a major victory.

British and EU Negotiators will still have to define the terms of their future relations and, although a 26-page statement was also approved Sunday outlining some of the guidelines, much remains to be resolved, including Britain's freedom to control large parts of its economy.

Arriving at this stage of the divorce was a difficult struggle: 17 months of difficult negotiations, marked by untimely feuds within May's leadership, including a series of high-level resignations from his cabinet.

May's headaches are far from over. Her limits as a wrestler will be tested in her own parliament, where lawmakers in favor of Brexit have put the brakes on the principle of lack of firmness and a favorable position for the EU. the forces said it's still a terrible case.

According to the British press, no less than 90 lawmakers in May's Conservative party have announced their intention to vote against, alongside members of the Labor opposition party.

On Saturday, during a BBC radio talk show, he was asked if there was a "Plan B" in place if the British Parliament rejected its withdrawal agreement.

"I think if we were to go back to the European Union and say," Well, people do not like this deal, can we have another one? "I do not think they'll come to us and say," We'll make you a better deal. "

Boris Johnson, former Foreign Secretary and chief Brexit official, said on Saturday that Britain was "on the verge of a historic blunder". He said May's withdrawal agreement was giving too much power to Brussels.

What will happen to the withdrawal agreement if it is rejected by the British Parliament is not clear. Negotiators might try to return to Brussels to change the deal, but European leaders said they did not have much room for improvement and said it was not there anymore. nothing to discuss. They advised British legislators to take what is on the table.

"This is neither a holiday nor a day of mourning," French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday. "It's the choice of a sovereign people."

Quentin Ariès contributed to this report.

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