Brexit has begun. On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May sent an historic letter triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally initiating the country’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU). In a statement to the House of Commons, May called this an “historic moment from which there can be no turning back.” In response, European council president Donald Tusk said, “there is no reason to pretend this is a happy day.” May’s letter comes after the British public voted in a June 2016 referendum for the country to leave the EU. In this hour, we’ll discuss what Brexit might mean for the U.K and the countries staying in the EU, and preview what will likely be two years of exit negotiations.
Britain Initiates Exit from European Union
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A pro-remain protester holds up an EU flag near the Elzabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, at the Houses of Parliament shortly after British Prime Minister Theresa May announced to the House of Commons that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty had been triggered in London on March 29, 2017. (Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)
Guests:
David Rennie, Washington bureau chief and Lexington columnist, The Economist
Constanze Stelzenmueller, Robert Bosch senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe, Brookings Institute
John Fonte, director, Center for American Common Culture, Hudson Institute
Rob Watson, political correspondent, BBC
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