Here's a summary of what happened on Brexit at today's EU summit in under 150 words

Here's a summary of what happened on Brexit at today's EU summit in under 150 words
Copyright REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
By Emma Beswick
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Here's a summary of what happened on Brexit at today's EU summit in under 150 words

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The first day of the EU summit in Brussels proved as pivotal in the Brexit process as anticipated.

Here's what happened:

  • EU and UK Brexit negotiators announced they had reached a new deal in the morning.

  • The main changes from the previous one concern the controversial Northern Irish Backstop, which UK Prime Minister Johnson agreed to scrap.

  • Under the new deal, Northern Ireland will be in the UK customs territory "forever" but it will have a "special arrangement".

  • There will be no hard border on the island of Ireland.

  • EU27 leaders unanimously approved the deal.

  • It must now be ratified by the European Parliament.

  • It must also be approved by British lawmakers who will vote on it on Saturday.

  • Support from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is crucial for Johnson to win Parliament's approval, but the Northern Irish party has said it will not vote for the deal.

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