Yesterday the chief negotiators of the European Union and the UK reached initial agreement in the Brexit negotiations. This is an important step.

We now finally have a signal from the UK as to how it could proceed with an orderly Brexit. That is extremely important. As we can see today, we have, however, only completed part of the journey to an orderly Brexit. Both sides still have work to do.

It is clear that the talks in the UK will not be easy. Given the weight of the decision and the discussions that have been conducted on it in the UK, that is no surprise.

We hope now, however, that all sides will shoulder their responsibility and think through the consequences of the decisions to be taken, the consequences of voting for and against. At the end of the day, there is a lot at stake.

The negotiations that have taken place and the results of these negotiations have been tough for both sides. They reached out to one another.

Together with the other member states of the EU, we will look carefully at the presented document and decide upon it in the European Council. I hope of course that the British side will also look seriously and carefully at the document, above all, at the opportunities contained therein.

Needless to say, even when Brexit happens, we want to have the closest possible relations with our British friends. We believe this document presents a good basis. But all this only works if we have an orderly Brexit.

A Brexit without an agreement would have serious consequences for all sides. We should not let that happen.