EU approves UK’s Brexit deal at Brussels summit

European Union (EU) leaders on Sunday approved an agreement around the UK’s withdrawal from the union and its future relations with the 27-country bloc, according to media reports.

After 20 months of negotiations, 27 EU leaders gathered in Brussels and officially endorsed UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan on how the country will leave the bloc in March next year.

At the summit, EU leaders approved two key Brexit documents. The first was a 599-page EU withdrawal agreement, a legally binding document setting out the terms of the UK's departure from the EU. The second was a political declaration, which sets out how the UK and EU's relationship may be after Brexit, outlining factors like how UK-EU trade and security will work.

Speaking in Brussels, May urged both British voters to unite behind the agreement, insisting the public "do not want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit."

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019.

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, expressed sadness at the UK’s departure, telling reporters in the Belgian capital that it was a "tragedy."

However, Juncker said he backed May's plan, noting that it was the best deal possible for Britain.

Other European leaders were also positive of the agreement, with Dutch leader Mark Rutte saying it was balanced on both sides.