The European Union have welcomed Boris Johnson’s thumping general election victory, calling for the Brexit deal to be ratified as soon as possible with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressing that “the time frame ahead of us is very challenging”.
EU officials and leaders have however warned Britain against using Brexit to cut tariffs and undercut the bloc.
Euronews reports that when she was speaking to reporters from Brussels after a two-day EU leaders’ summit, Von der Leyen congratulated Johnson on his victory and said the bloc “expect(s) the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement to be ended by January”.
She said the EU is ready to move to the next phase of the Brexit process, warning that “the time frame ahead of us is very challenging. We will have to work as soon as possible. We will be ready to get the most out of the short period available.”
Von der Leyen added that she wants the EU and UK to enter into an “unprecedented partnership” in which relations will be “as close as possible in full respect of our principles”.
She stressed that “the level-playing field is of the utmost importance”.
Via Euronews
