BRUSSELS: European Union leaders agreed on Friday to open crucial talks on a future relationship with Britain once it leaves the bloc, but warned it would be “dramatically difficult” to reach a deal before Brexit in 2019. EU President Donald Tusk said afterwards that the bloc would open “exploratory contacts with the UK to get more clarity on their vision” for ties after Brexit. Options for a future relationship include following the model of a recent EU-Canada trade deal, or Norway’s membership in the European Economic Area. ‘Test of EU unity’May received polite applause when she addressed EU leaders at a summit dinner on Thursday, and several of her counterparts praised her role in securing progress. But Tusk has warned that the next phase of talks will be the “real test of our unity.”AFP

Source: Manila Times December 16, 2017 00:22 UTC