Yesterday the UK left the European Union (Brexit), to begin an unspecified phase that represents the biggest change in its global position since the collapse of the British Empire, and the most severe blow to the efforts of 70 years to achieve European unity on the ruins of World War II.

And Britain left yesterday, from the club it joined in 1973, to enter a transitional period in which it enjoys all the benefits of membership except for the name until the end of this year.

In one fell swoop, the European Union will be deprived of 15% of the size of its economy, the most spending member of armament, and the international financial capital, London. The separation will shape Britain's destiny, and determine the amount of its wealth for future generations.

"This is the moment when dawn breaks and the curtain on a new chapter rises," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a televised speech, although he provided few details about his plans after the exit except for the enthusiastic words.

"This is the dawn of a new era," Johnson said, one of the main leaders in the "departure" campaign ahead of the 2016 exit referendum.

Contrary to the symbolic meaning of Britain turning its back on 47 years of membership, little will actually change until the end of 2020, the time when Johnson promised to conclude a broad free trade agreement with the European Union, the world's largest trade bloc.

For supporters, Britain’s exit from the union represents a dream of “Independence Day”, far from what they saw as a failed doomed project dominated by the Germans, and failed to fulfill the dreams of its 500 million people.

But opponents believe that "Brexit" is foolishness that would weaken the West, blow up the remaining global influence of Britain, undermine its economy and ultimately transform it into a group of isolated islands in the North Atlantic.

In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Lin said yesterday that the European Union will start a new chapter after leaving Britain and will operate at the same pace as a unifying force on global issues, from climate change to technological change. "Experiences have taught us that strength does not lie in wonderful isolation, but in our unique union," Von der Lin told a news conference before Britain's formal exit from the bloc.

"There is no other place in the world in which you can find 27 countries out of 440 million people who speak 24 different languages, depend on each other, work together, and live side by side." There is no doubt that the challenges facing Europe and the opportunities it can seize have not changed due to Britain's exit from the European Union.

She added that the British exit gave the 27 remaining EU countries a "rare opportunity" to ensure that Europe takes the lead in tackling climate change, the digital revolution and immigration management.

The Chairperson of the Commission said that the European Union wanted "the closest possible relationship" with Britain, but it would "defend its interests with great determination."

She added that this is "not an end, but a beginning ... the British people decided, and that must be respected."

The European Union said to Britain that it cannot expect "the highest quality entry into the single (European) market, unless it adopts the European Union standards in the fields of the environment, workers' rights, taxes and aid provided by the state."

British newspaper headlines reflect optimism and apprehension on "Brexit"

The British woke up for the last time yesterday morning, as citizens of the European Union, while the headlines reflected the enthusiasm of the Brexit supporters and the apprehension of those who wished to stay.

"Yes, we did it!" Daily Express, a staunchly pro-secession titled.

The title was written alongside a map of the United Kingdom with the newspaper’s headlines that have been issued for the 43 months since the June 2016 referendum. This period saw three dates for the implementation of "Brexit". As for the "Daily Mail", which in turn supports "Priest", it wrote on its cover "New Dawn for Britain". I attached the title to “At 11 pm, our dear nation will finally leave the European Union, always friendly to Europe, but free and independent again after 47 years.”

The left-wing newspaper, The Guardian, in turn, expressed its preference for staying in the European Union, titled "Small Island" and described "Brexit" as "the biggest bet in a generation."

And the Times published on its front page an article displaying the ideas of Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the free trade agreement that he wants to reach with the European Union, and is in the same pattern as the recent agreement between the European Union and Canada.

For its part, the Financial Times wrote: "Britain is withdrawing amid a mixture of optimism and regret."

Also, the free corporate daily "City IM" published "It was a long journey" against the backdrop of a picture of an amusement park carrying the most prominent "Brexit" characters.

As for the "Daily Telegraph", its headline was titled "Not an End, Rather a Beginning", along with Johnson's statements that he made before the Friday government session in the city of Sunderland, where voters had voted extensively in favor of "Brexit".

In Scotland, where voters voted to stay in the European Union, the tone was different.

"Scottsman", the Edinburgh newspaper, wrote, "Goodbye, Not Goodbye." The phrase "Goodbye" was written in 24 European languages.

As for the "Daily Record", I summarized the post-Brexit scene with pessimism: "Isolated, less prosperous, weaker and divided."

The "Daily Star" did not resist the banter, so she wrote "a historic moment this evening for our great nation," adding "yes, it is the end of the dry January." London ■ AFP

Political figures who influenced the Brexit track

Each way, these political figures influenced the "Brexit" path, and the following are the most prominent:

David Cameron

Although he was opposed to leaving the European Union, David Cameron, who has served as British Prime Minister for six years since 2010, enters history as the man who launched the Brexit process.

Cameron ordered a referendum on Britain's fate in the European Union in 2016, hoping to calm the voices of skeptics of the union within his conservative party, and to address the rise of the anti-European movement and immigrants "Ucib" led by Nigel Varag.

Nigel Varag

The controversial 55-year-old, Nigel Varag, is a persistent advocate of leaving the European Union. This skilled man in the media strikes left the Independence Party (UCIP), which he co-founded, days after the referendum.

He returned to the forefront again after the political crisis that followed the referendum, to head in April 2019 Prescott, which leads the European elections two months later.

Theresa May

Theresa May, a skeptic of European institutions, but at the same time pro-staying in it, assumed the premiership to succeed Cameron. May faced criticism for launching exit measures from the European Union very early on March 29, which was supposed to end two years later. Desiring to consolidate her authority before negotiations with Brussels, May called for early parliamentary elections in which the Conservative Party lost its majority to have to ally with the small Irish unitary party to maintain its majority.

Boris Johnson

The former mayor of London put all his weight to bring Britain out of the European Union. Johnson, known for his promises about a health system based on random numbers, who was charged with falsehood charges and eventually dismissed, arrived at the head of the British government at the age of 55 in July 2019.

Johnson failed to fulfill his promise to implement "Brexit" on October 31. But the overwhelming majority he obtained in the December elections enabled him to enter history as the Prime Minister who will, during his reign, leave the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Michel Barnier

The EU negotiator, before Brexit, will also be its negotiator during the transitional period. Barnier, the fierce defender of European Union interests, managed to preserve the unity of his 27 countries during talks with London, particularly on the thorny issue of Ireland's borders. London ■ AFP

- Chairperson of the European Commission: Experiences have taught us that strength does not lie in wonderful isolation, but in our unique union.