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Britain's Government will begin the process of leaving the European Union on March 29, starting the clock on the two years it has to complete the most important negotiation for a generation.
Tim Barrow, Britain's ambassador to the EU, informed the European Council President Donald Tusk of the timing on Monday morning (local time), the Department for Exiting the European Union said.
The notification of triggering Article 50 of a key EU treaty will come in the form of a letter delivered to Mr Tusk, though it was unclear whether it would come through an actual letter or an emailmissive.
"We are on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a generation," Brexit secretary David 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."
Prime Minister Theresa May's office said that she would make a statement in the House of Commons on the day Article 50 is triggered.
The announcement came after Ms May pushed through legislation last week to start the negotiations for withdrawal — a process set in motion by voters in a referendum on June 23 last year.
Ms May had faced resistance from the House of Lords, which demanded amendments to her legislation protecting Britons living in Europe and ensuring a "meaningful" vote for parliament on the final deal, but eventually backed down.
She is also dealing with a backlash from Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is calling for another independence referendum to stop her country being dragged out of the EU against its will.
The European Commission said they stood ready to help launch the negotiations.
"Everything is ready on this side," spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.
AP
Topics: world-politics, united-kingdom, european-union
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