Top EU officials sign Brexit agreement

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - Top EU officials signed the Brexit agreement on Friday.

President of the EU Council Charles Michel said on Twitter that he signed the agreement along with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies," Michel added.

Von der Leyen also said on Twitter that now the agreement was open for ratification by the EU Parliament.

The EU Parliament is expected to vote on the agreement on Jan. 29.

The EU Withdrawal Bill that will enable Britain's exit from the bloc on Jan. 31 became law in the U.K. on Thursday after receiving royal assent from Queen Elizabeth.

According to the law, the U.K. will leave the EU on Jan. 31, when a transition period that will expire on Dec. 31, 2020, will kick in.