UK Prime Minister Also Signs Brexit... Only EU Parliament Ratification Remains

Approval by the European Parliament on the 29th Expected to Pass Without Objections
EU Withdrawal as of 11 AM Local Time on the 31st

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (Source=Yonhap News, EPA)

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The British Prime Minister has completed signing the European Union (EU) withdrawal agreement. Once the European Parliament ratifies it, the UK will officially leave the EU.

On the 25th (local time), according to BBC and others, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed the EU withdrawal agreement at the Prime Minister's residence, watched by officials from the EU and the UK Foreign Office.

Earlier that day in Brussels, Belgium, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, gathered to sign the EU withdrawal agreement. Prime Minister Johnson, having received the document delivered via Eurostar train, added his signature. The original signed document will be returned to Brussels.

The final step required for Brexit is the ratification by the European Parliament on the 29th. Once this procedure is completed, the UK will leave the EU at 11 p.m. (GMT) on the 31st. As a formal procedure, the European Parliament ratification is expected to pass without major objections.

Prime Minister Johnson said, "By signing the EU withdrawal agreement, we have finally fulfilled the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum and ended years of debate and division. Now, as one nation, we can move forward, and the government will focus on providing better public services and more opportunities."