By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – EU leaders have agreed to move Brexit negotiations to the second phase, European Council President Donald Tusk said Friday.
“EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks," Tusk tweeted, also expressing his congratulations to British Prime Minister Theresa May.
The announcement by Tusk came ahead of a joint press conference with Jean-Claude Juncker set for 12:30 GMT to announce developments in the divorce talks between Britain and the bloc.
The second phase of negotiations will focus on future trade relations between the parties.
A deal was reached between the U.K. and the bloc last week to move the talks forward after agreement came on financial settlement, citizens’ rights, and the Irish border -- three key issues in the first phase.
The U.K. is set to leave the bloc in March 2019, ending its 44-year long membership.