EnglishFrançaisDeutschItalianoEspañolPortuguêsРусскийTürkçeΕλληνικάMagyarفارسیالعربيةShqipRomânăქართულიбългарскиSrpski
United Kingdom

Brexit: how the deal was done

Access to the comments Comments
By Catherine Hardy
Brexit: how the deal was done

The settlement addresses all of Prime Minister Cameron's concerns without compromising our fundamental values

David Cameron says he achieved all his main negotiating aims at what became known as the EU Brexit summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Cameron wanted renegotiation on four key issues: welfare payments, economic governance, sovereignty and competitiveness.

“It is a legally binding and irreversible decision by all 28 leaders. The settlement addresses all of Prime Minister Cameron’s concerns without compromising our fundamental values,” EU Council President Donald Tusk told reporters after the talks ended.

Cameron faced particularly stiff opposition from a number of central and eastern european leaders as well France and Belgium.

A deal was eventually agreed late on Friday evening.

In tweets

What they are saying

The EU institutions:

“So now the deal is done and it is up to the British people to decide.” – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

“It is a legally-binding and irreversible decision by all 28 members. The settlement addresses all of Prime Minister David Cameron’s concerns without compromising our fundamental values.”_ – European Council President Donald Tusk.

“No government can go to a parliament and ask for a guarantee about the result.” -European Parliament President Martin Schulz reminds stakeholders that the assembly still has to vote on the final deal agreed with Brussels.

National leaders:

“I believe we are stronger, safer and better off inside a reformed European Union.” – UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

“We believe that, with this, we have given David Cameron a package with which he can campaign for Britain to stay in the European Union.” – German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“We overcame our differences to reach a good agreement. Now it is up to the British people to decide. Good luck, David Cameron.” – Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium.

“Whatever face-saving and face-lifting exercise we do @EUCO, the decision belongs to the British people.” – Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania.