Updated February 1st, 2020 at 09:20 IST
Britain's flag taken down at EU headquarters hours before Brexit
Britain left the EU on Friday after 47 years of membership, in a historic blow to the bloc. Britain's PM Boris Johnson called it 'a moment of change'
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The flag of the United Kingdom - the Union Jack - was taken down from the European Council building Brussel hours before Britain officially left the European Union. Britain left the European Union on Friday, January 31 after 47 years of membership in a historic blow to the bloc.
The UK flag is removed from the @EUCouncil building in Brussels as the country leaves the EU at midnight pic.twitter.com/uzI2ERRoB0
— EU Council (@EUCouncil) January 31, 2020
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The U.K.s departure became official at 2300 GMT, midnight in Brussels, where the EU is headquartered. Thousands of enthusiastic Brexit supporters gathered outside Britain’s Parliament cheered as the hour struck. They had been hoping for this moment since Britain’s 52 per cent Leave vote to 48 per cent Remain vote in June 2016 to walk away from the bloc, which it had joined in 1973.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Britain’s departure “a moment of real national renewal and change.”
The Brexit deal now enters an 11-month transition window in which the U.K. will continue to follow the bloc’s rules — to strike new agreements on trade, security, and a host of other areas.
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(With Agency Inputs)
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Published February 1st, 2020 at 09:20 IST
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