Hello and welcome to NewsHour from the BBC World Service.

I'm Celia Hatton and I'm coming to you live from our studio in central London.

Well, not far from here this morning, lots of smiles and kisses on the cheek

as a new deal is announced between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Nine years after the

UK voted to leave the EU after a razor-thin victory in favour of Brexit, the divorce proceedings,

which have started, have then led to a fresh start between the UK and the EU's 27 remaining states.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was beaming as she took to the podium

alongside the UK's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmour.

Dear Keir, what we have agreed today is historic.

It will make a real difference to people in the UK and across our Union,

but the message we are sending to the world today is equally, if not more, important.

It is a message that at a time of global instability, and when our continent faces, the greatest threat is as for generations,

we in Europe stick together. A little less smiley, but no less positive. Sir Keir said the

wide-ranging agreement, which covers everything from food to defense and passport checks, was a win-win.

It's time to look forward. It's time to move on from the stale old debates and political

fights to focus on delivering common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British

people. We're ready to work with all our partners,

wherever it means we can improve people's lives here at home. And that's what this deal is all about.

Facing out to the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation, building the relationships we choose,

with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interests.

And the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, reflected the global context

that perhaps motivated the two signs to come together, especially on security.

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