Boris Johnson hails 'new chapter' as he signs EU divorce treaty

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday hailed "a new chapter" in Britain's history as he signed its divorce treaty with EU, clearing ar hurdle before country exits bloc next Friday.

It allows Britain to end its deces-long membership of European Union and leave its closest neighbours and tring partners after several years of domestic acrimony and delays.

" signing of withdrawal agreement is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers result of 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division," Johnson said in a statement.

"This signature heralds a new chapter in our nation's history," he ded on Twitter, alongside a photo of occasion.

Johnson signed agreement in Downing Street, seated in front of two Union Jack flags, with European and British officials who h brought it from Brussels looking on.

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel h alrey put ir names to treaty overnight at a ceremony held behind closed doors in early hours of morning.

It will w return to Brussels, where original will be kept in EU archives along with or international treaties, while three copies will be dispatched back to London.

On Wednesday next week, text will go to European Parliament for ratification and on Thursday diplomats from EU member states will approve deal in writing.

n, on Friday, January 31, Britain spends its last day in EU before leaving bloc at 2300 GMT as clocks strike midnight in Brussels.

In ar move to prepare Brussels for relations with Britain as an outside power, European Commission named an ambassor -- veteran diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida -- to London.

Earlier before dawn, chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier h watched as European Commission president Von der Leyen and European Council president Michel signed treaty in Council's hequarters.

"Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain," Michel tweeted. "We start a new chapter as partners and allies."

former Belgian premier, whose council represents EU member governments, ded, in French: "I'm keen to write this new p toger."

reporters or photographers were allowed to witness low key ceremony, despite news ncies offering to organise a pool.

Hours later Johnson signed same document with a Parker fountain pen, as is tritional for ceremonial signings in Downing Street.

Staff including prime minister's chief Brexit negotiator David Frost were present.

British voters backed leaving European Union in a June 2016 referendum, and after lengthy negotiations and several delays Johnson's new government will finally "get Brexit done" next week.

Queen Elizabeth II gave her formal assent to British withdrawal legislation on Thursday and EU is w expected to complete final formalities in coming days.

Britain will leave institutions of union, reducing it to 27 member states, but withdrawal agreement provides for an 11-month transition period until end of year.

During this time, Britain and rest of bloc will continue to apply same rules of business to avoid ecomic disruption while officials try to negotiate a broer tre deal.

Most experts regard idea that London and Brussels could agree a comprehensive free tre agreement in that time as ambitious.

But officials have expressed cautious optimism that some kind of agreement can be reached.

Formal tre talks are t expected to begin until end of February or even March, and in meantime Barnier has been in intensive talks with EU member states on his negotiating mandate.

After transition, Britain wants right to set its own rules in areas such as workers' rights and environmental standards.

But Brussels has warned that more UK diverges from EU standards, less it will have unfettered access to Europe's huge single market.

And a comprehensive free tre agreement of EU has signed with Cana could take years to negotiate.

AFP RAX

RAX