Brexit: EU leaders agree to back Theresa May's deal

Leaders met for around half an hour before signing off the treaty

The 27 EU national leaders have agreed to endorse Theresa May's Brexit deal at a meeting in Brussels.

The heads of state and government backed the treaty after meeting for around half an hour – with the real work having been done by negotiators during the preceding 18 months.

The European Council released a statement on Sunday morning saying it had approved the the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration on the future relationship.

But despite the sign-off in Brussels the accord still faces formidable opposition in Westminster and Britain at large, with all opposition parties, and a large chunk of the governing Conservative party totally set against it.

Arriving at the summit, Europe’s top brass urged the British parliament, which will now get a vote on the agreement, to also back it.

Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the agreement was “the best deal possible” and that the EU would not change its “fundamental position” in any attempt to renegotiate it.

Meanwhile EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier insisted he has always “negotiated with the UK, never against” it.

What will happen once the deal is most likely rejected by the House of Commons remains unclear. The Government has suggested that Brexit could potentially be cancelled, or that a chaotic no-deal could take place. Some campaigners have suggested there should be a second referendum, while Labour favours a general election to decide the way forward.

Mr Juncker said he would vote for the deal were he a British MP, and said: “I do think that the British parliament, because this is a wise parliament, will ratify this deal.”

He added: “The UK leaving the EU is a tragic moment. Not a moment to celebrate.”

But arriving at the same meeting, French president Emmanuel Macron said: “It's not a day when we should celebrate, nor a day of mourning. It is the choice of a sovereign people.”

Mr Macron added that Britain’s departure showed the EU had a “fragile” side and was in need of reform. He also pledged that the deal would protect the access of French fishermen to British waters.

Chief negotiator Mr Barnier told reporters: “All along this extraordinary negotiation, very difficult we have worked to reach a deal. That means to organise in an orderly fashion the withdrawal decided by the UK.

“We have negotiated with the UK, never against the UK. Now it is time for everybody to take their responsibility, everybody.

“This deal is a necessary step to build trust between the UK and the EU, we need build in the next phase of this unprecedented and ambitious partnership. We will remain allies, partners and friends.”

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said there were “no political winners or victories” in the Brexit process.

He added: ”I don't expect a 'no' vote. I expect a yes vote and this is the deal on the table. I don't think there's anything more."

EU diplomats speaking in the margins of the summit repeated the bloc’s position that there would be no renegotiation of Brexit, and that this was the only deal on offer.

The European Council conclusions released on Sunday specifically thanked Michel Barnier “for his tireless efforts as the Union’s chief negotiator and for his contribution to maintaining the unity among EU27 member states throughout the negotiations”.

Council president Donald Tusk confirmed on Sunday morning: “EU27 has endorsed the withdrawal agreement and political declaration on the future EU-UK relations.”

EU leaders met amongst themselves without Theresa May, and were then joined by the British prime minister to discuss the deal once they had signed it off. The PM has been in Brussels since Saturday afternoon putting the finishing touches to the deal.

Among the final hurdles were the issue of Gibraltar. The UK conceded in writing that Spain should have a veto over whether any future trade deal applies to Gibraltar – potentially storing up trouble down the road. Spain wants any future relationship governing the British overseas territory to be negotiated bilaterally between itself and the UK.