Special meeting of the European Council (Art. 50) (25 November 2018)
– Conclusions
1. The European Council endorses the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic
Energy Community. On this basis, the European Council invites the Commission, the
European Parliament and the Council to take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement
can enter into force on 30 March 2019, so as to provide for an orderly withdrawal.
2. The European Council approves the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the
future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. The European Council restates the Union’s determination to have as close as
possible a partnership with the United Kingdom in the future in line with the Political
Declaration. The Union’s approach will continue to be defined by the overall positions and
principles set out in the previously agreed European Council’s guidelines. The European
Council will remain permanently seized of the matter.
3. The European Council thanks 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 on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European
Union.