{"id":383652,"date":"2017-12-15T14:23:02","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T14:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=383652"},"modified":"2017-12-15T14:25:48","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T14:25:48","slug":"brexit-eu-leaders-agree-move-talks-next-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/12\/brexit-eu-leaders-agree-move-talks-next-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Brexit: EU leaders agree to move talks to next stage"},"content":{"rendered":"
EU leaders have agreed to move Brexit talks on to the second phase but called for “further clarity” from the UK about its future intentions.<\/p>\n
Talks will now move on to the long-term relationship between the UK and EU.<\/p>\n
The first issue to be discussed, at talks next month, will be the terms of an expected two-year transition phase after the UK’s March 2019 exit.<\/p>\n
Theresa May welcomed the move as an “important step on the road” to ensuring a “smooth and orderly” exit.<\/p>\n
While acknowledging “very significant progress” had been made, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the next phase would be “even tougher”.<\/p>\n
Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, tweeted the news that the 27 EU leaders were happy to move onto phase two after they met in Brussels.<\/p>\n
He congratulated UK Prime Minister Mrs May on reaching what the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg said was a major moment in the Brexit process.<\/p>\n