This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-european-union-eu-theresa-may-european-council-brussels-a8111381.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brexit - live updates: EU leaders give Theresa May the go ahead to move to second phase of talks | Brexit - live updates: EU leaders give Theresa May the go ahead to move to second phase of talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Welcome to The Independent's liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates on Brexit from a crucial EU summit. | Welcome to The Independent's liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates on Brexit from a crucial EU summit. |
| European leaders have formally agreed to move to the next stage of Brexit talks after deeming "sufficient progress" has been made on key issues. | European leaders have formally agreed to move to the next stage of Brexit talks after deeming "sufficient progress" has been made on key issues. |
| European Commission President Donald Tusk announced the breakthrough on Twitter, posting: "EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may". | |
| It means talks can now shift to the transition period and future trade relationship. | It means talks can now shift to the transition period and future trade relationship. |
| For the latest updates, see below: | For the latest updates, see below: |
| Fresh from a bruising Commons defeat on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, the Prime Minister accepted EU plans to postpone trade talks until March when she attended a dinner with senior figures during the two-day European Council meeting. | Fresh from a bruising Commons defeat on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, the Prime Minister accepted EU plans to postpone trade talks until March when she attended a dinner with senior figures during the two-day European Council meeting. |
| Ms May made a pre-dawn dash to Brussels last week to sign off the draft agreement over the first phase of the Brexit talks, which centred on the issues of the Irish border, citizens' rights and the so-called divorce bill. | Ms May made a pre-dawn dash to Brussels last week to sign off the draft agreement over the first phase of the Brexit talks, which centred on the issues of the Irish border, citizens' rights and the so-called divorce bill. |
| However her relief was short-lived as Tory rebels banded together to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Government over its Brexit legislation, which would allow MPs to have a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal. | However her relief was short-lived as Tory rebels banded together to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Government over its Brexit legislation, which would allow MPs to have a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal. |