BREXIT - Prime Minister Theresa May is due to trigger the formal two-year process of leaving the European Union(EU) on Wednesday March 29,2017

Britain to Launch Brexit Process on March 29,2017

Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal notification of the United Kingdom's intention to leave the European Union, on March 29, a spokesman for the British leader said on Monday March 20,2017

The United Kingdom has informed European Council President Donald Tusk's office of May's intention, May's spokesman said, confirming an earlier Reuters report from Brussels.

ARTICLE 50: WHAT HAPPENS NOW  

Theresa May's letter to Donald Tusk next week will start a two-year process to leave the EU.

The Article 50 procedure has never been used - and its author never intended it to be.

It means the precise process, including whether Britain can negotiate its future relationship while agreeing the divorce, is unclear. 

Mrs May's letter could include an outline of Britain's negotiating position. 

Among the first things to definitely happen will be a response from the EU within 48 hours that is expected to set its guidelines for talks.

An initial emergency EU summit is then expected to held within weeks.

After an initial rush, negotiations will be centred on the regular summits every two months, with feverish activity expected behind the scenes.

EU history would suggest a major summit toward the end of the process in which nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. 

After the deal is struck, it will still need to be agreed at least by the European Parliament and the Westminster Parliament, and probably in many of the 27 EU nations too.

“Last June, the people of the UK made the historic decision to leave the EU. Next Wednesday, the Government will deliver on that decision and formally start the process by triggering Article 50,” Brexit minister David Davis said in a statement.

The move will begin a two-year negotiating period in which the British government and the EU hope to agree on the terms of Britain's exit and reach a separate deal on the shape of their future relationship, most importantly on the terms of trade between the two.

“We are on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a generation,” Davis said.

“The Government is clear in its aims: a deal that works for every nation and region of the UK and indeed for all of Europe a new, positive partnership between the UK and our friends and allies in the European Union.”