Prime Minister Juha Sipilä believes that the UK’s formal withdrawal notification makes the situation much clearer and eases uncertainty related to the matter, which in itself is most unfortunate.

The UK’s withdrawal notification was submitted on schedule, as promised by Prime Minister Theresa May.

‘EU 27 will be ready to initiate negotiations once the EU’s mandate has been settled. The European Council will adopt the guidelines for the EU 27 negotiations on 29 April. UK’s withdrawal process from the European Union starts from there. The aim is to bring the complex Brexit negotiations to a close by the end of 24 months,’ said the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

‘Finland will take a constructive approach to the negotiations and hopes the same of the UK. We wish to continue working in close partnership with the UK,” he said, adding that, however, all rights and obligations must be kept in balance throughout the negotiations with the UK.

Theresa May signed the UK’s withdrawal notification from the EU in London today.

Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU, formally handed the withdrawal notification to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in the afternoon.