EU leaders sign UK Brexit agreement
EU leaders sign UK Brexit agreement

Top officials from the European Commission and European Council signed off on the UK Brexit Agreement on Friday, paving the way for Britain’s departure from the European Union at midnight on January 31.

Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and Council leader Charles Michel attended Friday’s official signing ceremony at the Council’s headquarters in Brussels, alongside chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Their signatures act as a formal endorsement and the treaty can now head to the European Parliament on January 29 for a final vote on ratification. The plenary is expected to pass the deal.

“Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament,” Commission chief von der Leyen tweeted.

Diplomats from the EU member states must approve the deal in writing next Thursday, as reported by Deutsche Welle.