EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCES NEW BREXIT DEAL WITH UK

Britain is scheduled to depart the European Union on October 31, 2019

United Kingdom

Britain and the European Union have a struck a new Brexit deal after days of intense back-and-forth negotiations between London and Brussels.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Union Commission, announced the agreement on Thursday.

"Where there is a will, there is a deal - we have one! It's a fair and balanced agreement for the EU and the UK and it is testament to our commitment to find solutions," Juncker said in a post on Twitter.

"I recommend that EUCO endorses this deal," he added, referring to the European Council of the leaders of member states that was due to meet later on Thursday.

The agreement must still be formally approved by all of the EU's member states and ratified by the European and UK Parliaments.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meanwhile praised the "great new deal" struck just over two weeks before the United Kingdom is scheduled to depart the 28-member bloc, on October 31.

"We’ve got a great new deal that takes back control - now Parliament should get Brexit done on Saturday so we can move on to other priorities like the cost of living, the NHS, violent crime and our environment #GetBrexitDone #TakeBackControl," Johnson said in a post on Twitter.

British legislators are set to vote on the agreement during a special sitting of the House of Commons on Saturday.

The UK Parliament has already rejected a prior Brexit deal - negotiated by Johnson's predeccesor, Theresa May - three times.