UK Edition
After months of talks and a major last-minute hitch, the European Commission has finally announced that "sufficient progress" has been made in the first phase of Brexit negotiations and work can now begin on the all-important future trade deal.
The landmark decision has been welcomed by many this morning, including business leaders and politicians.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who led the Vote Leave campaign, was among the first to praise the deal, telling Radio Four's Today programme: "Theresa May has won." However, Nigel Farage has attacked Mrs May’s deal as "not acceptable" saying it allows the UK to move on to “the next stage of humiliation”.
We've rounded up the best reaction to the deal from the UK and Europe here.
'Not acceptable', says Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage has attacked Theresa May’s Brexit deal as “not acceptable” which allows the UK to move on to “the next stage of humiliation”.
The former UK Independence Party leader said on Twitter: “A deal in Brussels is good news for Mrs May as we can now move on to the next stage of humiliation.”
Later Mr Farage told the Telegraph: “The European Court of Justice will be the ultimate arbiter of EU citizens’ rights. This is not acceptable.”
Theresa Villiers, the Eurosceptic former Cabinet minister, said that she had concerns about the ECJ oversight but was overall happy that a deal had been done.
Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, took to Twitter to welcome the deal, saying: "Today's announcement in Brussels is a boost for Britain's economy. Now let's conclude a trade deal that supports Britain's jobs, businesses and prosperity."
Dutch PM 'happy' but German MEP complains of 'fake compromise'
Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, has told Mrs May he is happy to proceed to the next phase of negotiations.
It comes after Mr Rutte gave a joint press conference in Dublin with the Irish prime minister in a display of solidarity, where he announced that he "hated Brexit from every angle" and did not understand it "intellectually."
Meanwhile, Sven Giegold, a German MEP, dismissed the phase one deal as a "fake compromise."
He said: "The promise to go without regulatory differences won't be sufficient to avoid border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The principles of the common market demand a controlled border to third countries."
Amber Rudd 'delighted'
Amber Rudd, the Home secretary, also said she was delighted with the news.
She said: "Delighted we've reached an agreement which will give both Europeans here in the UK and British citizens in the EU binding guarantees about their residence rights.
"I hope this will now give those concerned real peace of mind. We are building a new system so that the application process will be smooth and simple. For now, EU citizens in the UK, do not need to do anything."
Of course, Brexit Secretary David Davis weighed in on Twitter too, saying: "Today is a big step forward in delivering Brexit. Been a lot of work but glad the Commission have now recommended that sufficient progress has been reached.
"Citizens can now be confident about the rights they enjoy; we should now move forward to discuss our future relationship with the EU on issues like trade and security."
Priti Patel, the former International Development secretary, added: "Today is an important step forward in delivering Brexit. With political will & vision, the next chapter we write in our history should be a positive one to secure our future success. Let's talk trade."
Suella Fernandes MP, chairman of the European Reform Group, tweeted: "Pragmatic & flexible. Great news that we are moving onto the next stage of negotiations. Credit to @Number10gov for all efforts on this."
Jeremy Hunt hails 'extraordinary' achievement
Michael Gove, the Environment secretary who led the Vote Leave campaign, said the deal was a "significant" moment for the Prime Minister. He told Radio Four's Today programme: "Theresa May has won. This deal allows us to move onto the trade discussions."
Jeremy Hunt, the Health secreatary, added: "Extraordinary achievement by Theresa May today. Against all odds a deal delivered that confirms she is probably the only person in Britain able to deliver a good & clean Brexit.
"Time for Theresa May's critics to recognise her extraordinary strength & resilience which, whatever the hurdles ahead, will deliver stage 2 just as it has delivered stage."
Nigel Dodds, the DUP's Westminster leader, added: "Fundamentals in all of this.....Northern Ireland will not be separated in any way from the rest of the UK after Brexit.
"Unfettered access to the UK market. No borders in the Irish Sea. Positive day for the Union. Now to the next stage and getting the best UK/EU trade deal."
John Mann, a leading Labour MP, added: “Those who were claiming doom and gloom need to reflect on how quickly it was done. I expect common sense to continue to prevail. The biggest sticking point always was and is immigration and free movement.”
Businesses will breathe 'huge sigh of relief'
Stephen Martin, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: "It went right down to the wire, but businesses will be breathing a huge sigh of relief."
He added: "The most pressing concern for UK companies has been their EU staff, who have urgently needed certainty about their future in this country.
"We have grounds to hope now that our members will be able to send their employees off for the Christmas break feeling more comfortable about their status here."
Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: "Businesses will be breathing a sigh of relief that 'sufficient progress' has been achieved.
"After the noise and political brinksmanship of recent days, news of a breakthrough in the negotiations will be warmly welcomed by companies across the UK.
"For business, a swift start to trade talks is crucial to upcoming investment and growth decisions.
"Companies all across the UK want absolute clarity on the long-term deal being sought, and want government to work closely with business experts to ensure that the details are right."
"Businesses want answers on what leaving the EU will mean for regulation, customs, hiring, standards, tariffs and taxes.
"The job of the UK government and the European Commission now is to provide those answers - and do everything in their power to ensure vibrant cross-border trade between the UK and EU countries can continue."
Ireland: Border deal is 'cast iron' guarantee
Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, said the deal offered a "bullet-proof" and "cast iron" guarantee to people on the island of Ireland that there would be no hard border.
Mr Varadkar said he was confident" there will be a transition period. "The detail and content of what that transition phase will involve will be a matter for phase two."
"This is not the end, it is the end of the beginning," he added, referencing Winston Churchill and hinting that Ireland's fight to protect its national interests was far from over.
An Irish official said: "This is a very good day for Ireland, north and south. We achieved the goals we set out to achieve in phase one.
"This includes maintenance of the Common Travel Area, protection of the Good Friday Agreement and north - south cooperation and protection of EU citizenship and other rights."
Simon Coveney, Irish foreign minister, said that there would be a "specific Irish stream in phase two to ensure the Irish issue don't get locked in with other issues and don't get the focus and priority they need."
Arron Banks, the founder of the Leave.EU movement
Mr Banks said that "this traitorous, lily-livered embarrassment of a prime minister" had overseen "the biggest sell-out of this country" since Edward Heath took the UK into the EU in 1973.
He said: "Full regulatory alignment with the Internal Market and Customs Union? We may as well just bend over and allow the European Union to have its way with us for years to come," said Mr Banks.
Pledging to honour financial commitments beyond 2020? Brussels would have been lucky had we agreed to honour them up until March 2019.
Under Theresa May, we are leaving the European Union in name only. If anyone in the Conservative Party has any integrity or sense of duty left, we call on them now to save Brexit by triggering a leadership contest. Tory backbenchers, get writing to the 1922 Committee and help save your country. She has got to go.