EU and British officials have agreed a draft text of the political declaration on the UK's future relationship with the bloc.

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It comes ahead of an expected European Council summit on Sunday, when EU leaders will be asked to sign off on the terms of the UK's divorce and the framework for a post-Brexit relationship.

The draft statement, which comprises 26 pages, sets out the structure for the future UK-EU relationship, which will be fully negotiated after the UK formally exits on 29 March, 2019.

The pound surged against both the dollar and the euro on news of the draft political declaration being finalised.


On Thursday, European Council president Donald Tusk said: "I have just sent to EU27 a draft political declaration on the future relationship between EU and UK.

"The Commission president has informed me that it has been agreed at negotiators' level and agreed in principle at political level, subject to the endorsement of the leaders."

Prime Minister Theresa May travelled to Brussels to meet with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday night.

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