Brexit is never ‘done’: EU looks to tough next phase of talks

The next stage of trade negotiations is likely to prove more difficult than anything that came before

The exit poll arrived as national leaders concluded a European Council dinner of roasted langoustines and chicken with chicory confit. It suggested a Conservative victory for British prime minister Boris Johnson on a scale not seen for decades. After years of uncertainty about what kind of Brexit Britain wanted and whether it could pass a deal, one reaction was dominant in Brussels: relief.

"A clear majority! It’s needed, it’s needed for the UK," a relieved-looking ...