Britain's EU partners agree guidelines for post-Brexit ties

By: The Associated Press

Friday, March 23, 2018 4:05 AM

BRUSSELS (AP) Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, says the European Union has agreed on guidelines that will govern upcoming discussions over its future relations and trade links with Britain after Brexit next year.

Tusk tweeted during a summit in Brussels Friday that the guidelines will steer "future EU-U.K. relations."

The document lays out the approach Britain's 27 EU partners will take on a variety of matters, including future security, defense and foreign policy ties, as well as the outlines of a future trade deal.

Britain is permitted to negotiate trade agreements after it official leaves the bloc at midnight on March 29, 2019, but no pact can enter force without EU permission before the end of December 2020 after a post-Brexit transition period.

Britain's EU partners agree guidelines for post-Brexit ties

European Council President Donald Tusk speaks during a media conference at an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Leaders from the 28 European Union nations meet for a two-day summit to assess the state of Brexit negotiations, the prospect of a trade war with the United States and how to react to Russia following to the nerve agent attack in Britain. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

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European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, left, kisses the hand of British Prime Minister Theresa May as they arrive for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels on Friday, March 23, 2018. Leaders from the 28 European Union nations meet for a second day of an EU summit to assess the state of Brexit negotiations and the prospect of a trade war with the United States. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

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British Prime Minister Theresa May gets into her car as she leaves an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, March 23, 2018. Leaders from the 28 European Union nations meet for a two-day summit to assess the state of Brexit negotiations, the prospect of a trade war with the United States and how to react to Russia following to the nerve agent attack in Britain. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

The Associated Press