Sufficient progress has been made in the Brexit talks to enable the talks to now move on to trade.

For Ireland and Northern Ireland, guarantees have been given that there will be no hard border between the UK and Ireland as the UK would keep its rules aligned with the EU’s. The Common Travel Area and the Good Friday Peace Agreement will also be upheld.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said “Ireland supports Brexit negotiations moving to Phase 2 now that we have secured assurances for all on the island of Ireland – fully protecting GFA [Good Friday Agreement], peace process, all-Island economy and ensuring that there can be no hard border on the Island of Ireland post Brexit”

The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that while there is still a lot of work to do: “I will always be sad about this development, but now we must start looking to the future, a future in which the UK will remain a close friend and ally.”