LONDON”•Britain formally launches the process for leaving the European Union on Wednesday, a historic step that has divided the country and thrown into question the future of the European project.
Just days after the EU’s 60th birthday, Britain will become the first country ever to seek a divorce, striking a blow at the heart of the union forged from the ashes of World War II.
Nine months since the shock referendum vote to leave the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 of the bloc’s Lisbon Treaty, meaning Britain is set to leave in 2019.
“We must no longer be defined by the votes we cast in the referendum but a determination to make a success of the result,” May will tell MPs later Wednesday, according to pre-released extracts of her speech.
“The triggering of Article 50 is the moment for the country to come together,” May will say, a day after Scotland’s parliament voted in favor of holding a fresh referendum on independence from Britain, in a bid to hold on to EU ties.
May has already signed the Brexit letter to be delivered to EU president Donald Tusk on Wednesday and the two leaders spoke by phone ahead of the momentous event.
After the historic triggering of divorce proceedings, Brussels and London face months of monumentally difficult negotiations over outstanding bills, immigration and future trade ties.
The EU is expected to issue a first response to Britain on Friday, followed by a summit of leaders on April 29 to adopt their own guidelines”•meaning it could be weeks before formal talks start.
As with many divorces, negotiations could rapidly turn nasty over money.
The priority is settling Britain’s outstanding obligations, estimated between 55 and 60 billion euros ($59-65 billion)”•an early battle that could set the tone for the rest of the talks.
Both sides also want to resolve the status of more than three million European nationals living in Britain after Brexit, and one million British expats in the EU.
Forging a new trade agreement and tensions in Northern Ireland”•which will become the country’s only hard border with the EU”•will also provide major headaches.
Many business leaders are deeply uneasy about May’s decision to leave Europe’s single market, a free trade area of 500 million people, fearing its impact on jobs and economic growth.
The Brexit vote sent the pound plunging, although the economy has been largely stable since then.
Despite May’s call for unity, Britons appear as divided now as in June’s referendum, which the “Leave” camp won by a narrow 52-48 margin.
Tens of thousands marched through London on Saturday demanding Britain keep its 44-year-old EU membership, with one banner urging politicians to “stop this madness.”
But many are elated after waiting years for this moment, including 66-year-old pensioner Christine Garrett, shopping at an East London street market.
“We could stand on our own two feet as a country. What do they do for us? Nothing,” she said.
Pushing her pram nearby was Julia Rogers, 38, who disagreed, saying: “It’s going to be a disaster.”
In the City of London financial hub, employees were mostly worried about the implications of Brexit.
“It’s quite a sorry state of affairs,” said Daniel Smith, 41.
