EU approves Theresa May's Brexit deal

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal agreement from the European Union has been approved by EU leaders. 

President of the European Council Donald Tusk announced that the 27 leaders of the bloc gave it their backing after less than an hour's discussion in Brussels yesterday. 

There was no formal vote with the EU proceeding by consensus. It follows more than 18 months of negotiations between the two sides, which began when the UK triggered Article 50 in the wake of the 2016 referendum



leave vote.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on the 29th March, 2019. The deal needs to be approved by the UK Parliament, with many MPs opposed. 

The Parliament is expected to vote on the deal early next month. Prime Minister Theresa May has appealed to the public to get behind the agreement. 

In a public letter, she argued that it is the best deal she could have struck and honours the result of the Brexit referendum.