PM Tsipras attends Brexit Summit in Brussels

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took part in the extraordinary European Summit on Brexit convened in Brussels on Sunday. The summit was held to

PM Tsipras attends Brexit Summit in Brussels
PM Tsipras attends Brexit Summit in Brussels
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took part in the extraordinary European Summit on Brexit convened in Brussels on Sunday. The summit was held to approve the agreement for...... the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union and the draft political declaration outlining the future relationship between Britain and the EU. The summit concluded with an agreement on the deal struck with British Prime Minister Theresa May, which European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker calling the UK's departure a "tragedy" but stressing that it was "the best possible deal for Britain". According to European Council President Donald Tusk, EU leaders approved the political declaration that outlines the framework of a closer future relation with London after Brexit. According to Greek government sources, Greece has succeeded in ensuring that the withdrawal agreement includes full protection of existing geographical indications and is seeking an equal level of protection in the agreement on future relations. Greece has also secured that the EU's cooperation with the UK in the framework of the common defence policy and the common foreign and security policy guarantees the EU's autonomy in decision-making and is unique to the UK, without creating any precedent for any other third country. The sources noted that, during the negotiations on the UK withdrawal, the Greek side has steadfastly supported the principle of solidarity with Ireland and and Spain on not establishing European borders in Ireland and Gibraltar, respectively. Meeting with Anastasiades on summit sidelines Tsipras met Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on the sidelines of the Brexit summit in Brussels on Sunday. According to Greek government sources, the meeting focused on the Cyprus issue and the trilateral summits scheduled between Greece and Cyprus with Jordan, Palestine and Israel (December 20). Major developments concerning the East Med natural gas pipeline are expected during the trilateral summit with Israel, the sources said. The key to a resumption of talks for a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue will be substantive preparation in the area of security, on the basis of the framework laid out by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Tsipras said in a tweet on Sunday. Posting about his meeting with Anastasiades on the sidelines of the Brexit Summit, Tsipras said that the resumption of talks was a "common goal" and that the two countries will continue their close cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and on a series of European issues.