PM wants ‘strong, long-lasting’ relationship with UK

Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, on Friday marked the last day of the UK’s presence in the European Union with a message stating that the UK will continue to have a strong and lasting relationship with Portugal.

“Today is the last day of the United Kingdom in the European Union. Tomorrow will be the first day of the new relationship with this old friend of ours, an ancestral ally and forever a partner. The relationship between our two countries will continue to be strong and lasting,” the prime minister said in a message published on his personal Twitter account.

In the UK, ‘Brexit’ will be marked on Friday with a speech by British prime minister Boris Johnson, as well as demonstrations for and against this country’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Boris Johnson will address the country with a speech recorded in advance and which will be broadcast at 10 p.m.

“Our job as the government – my job – is to bring this country together and take us forward,” Johnson said.

Saying that Brexit is “the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act. It is a moment of real national renewal and change.”

A light show, including a clock counting down to 11 p.m. (local and GMT, midnight in Brussels), the official time of departure from the EU, will be projected On the outside wall of the official residence building in Downing Street.