London, March 16 (QNA) – Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday gave Royal Assent to the Brexit bill, clearing the way for British Prime Minister Theresa May to start talks to leave the European Union, the BBC reported.
The royal assent to the bill will empower British Prime Minister Theresa May to invoke the Article 50 of EU’s Lisbon Treaty any time from now and begin the process of leaving the European Union
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was passed by MPs and peers. It allows the British Prime Minister to notify Brussels that the UK is leaving the EU, with a two year process of exit negotiations to follow.
May has said she will send a letter to the European Council informing them of Britain’s decision to leave the bloc by the end of March, following a majority vote for Brexit in last year’s referendum. The House of Commons speaker John Bercow announced the final go-ahead in the parliamentary chamber.
The queen’s signature on the bill allows May to invoke Article 50 any time from now in a process that will take a maximum of two years unless Britain and its EU partners agree to extend the deadline.
May said she will address the British parliament to inform lawmakers that she has triggered Article 50 and an initial response is expected from the European Commission within 48 hours. (QNA)
