It is an apocalypse, a reality many in Europe and indeed the entire world never believe would happen-Britain’s divorce from the Europe Union. The British Prime Minister, Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the bloc’s Lisbon Treaty earlier today which officially kicks off the Brexit process.
“We must no longer be defined by the votes we cast in the referendum but a determination to make a success of the result,” May will tell MPs later Wednesday, according to pre-released extracts of her speech.
“The triggering of Article 50 is the moment for the country to come together,” May will say, a day after Scotland’s parliament voted in favour of holding a fresh referendum on independence from Britain, in a bid to hold on to EU ties.
May has already signed the Brexit letter to be delivered to EU president Donald Tusk on Wednesday and the two leaders spoke by phone ahead of the momentous event.
Brussels and London face months of monumentally difficult negotiations over outstanding bills, immigration and future trade ties. Both sides have expressed willingness to be flexible and avoid a bitter divorce
A European and a Union flag fly alongside Big Ben during an Anti Brexit campaigners march in Parliament in London, Saturday March 25, 2017. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to start the process of leaving the European Union on Wednesday March 29. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The EU is expected to issue a first response to Britain on Friday, followed by a summit of leaders on April 29 to adopt their own guidelines – meaning it could be weeks before formal talks start.
As with many divorces, negotiations could rapidly turn nasty over money. Britain and the EU have two years to unpick a tapestry of rules, regulations and agreements stitched over more than four decades since Britain joined what was then the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973.
The priority is settling Britain’s outstanding obligations, estimated between 55 and 60 billion euros ($59-65 billion) – an early battle that could set the tone for the rest of the talks.
