LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Theresa May says Britain’s exit from the European Union is an opportunity to build an “independent, self-governing, global Britain.” As Britain officially starts the two-year leaving process, here’s a look at some of the challenges ahead:
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Negotiations will determine future relations between Britain’s estimated 65 million people and the roughly 435 million people living in the 27 other EU countries. Key questions include whether they will be able to live, work and study in each other’s countries and how freely goods and services can be transported between Britain and the EU.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
The EU says Britain can’t leave without settling its bill, paying up for the U.K.’s share of staff pensions and projects it has already agreed to fund. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has put the figure at around 50 billion euros ($63 billion). Britain agrees it will have to pay something, but is sure to quibble over how much.