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It's been around four and a half years since the British voted to leave the EU.

Now - after extremely lengthy negotiations - the European Union and Great Britain have agreed a Brexit trade pact on Christmas Eve.

And at the last minute.

WELT summarizes the central quotes at the conclusion of the deal.

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen

“It took a while, but now we have an agreement.

It was a long and rocky road.

But the result is good. "

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

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"We will be your friend, your partner, your supporter, and not to forget, your number one market."

"I think this is a good deal for all of Europe."

"We have regained control of our destiny."

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When he announced his Brexit trade pact with the EU, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson fashionably recalled one of the most controversial negotiating topics.

Lots of little fish adorned his dark tie when he announced the breakthrough in months of negotiations in London on Christmas Eve.

Until recently, access for EU fishermen to British waters was one of the most contentious issues between London and Brussels.

At a dinner between EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Johnson, the Brussels cooks had recently served swipes on the subject of fisheries: The starter was scallops - which a bitter dispute between France and Great Britain had raged over in the English Channel.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, CDU

"With the agreement we are creating the basis for a new chapter in our relationship."

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“I am pleased that the negotiators of the European Union and Great Britain have reached an agreement and that future relations between the European Union and Great Britain are clearly regulated.

This is of historical importance. "

French head of state Emmanuel Macron

"The European unity and stability have paid off."

"Europe is moving forward and can look forward to a united, independent and strong future"

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, SPD

“It was a negotiation marathon, but in a world record time and with a long final spurt.

It was worth going that much-cited extra mile. "

“We have finally seen white smoke rising from the negotiations, but the agreement is not yet finalized.

As the Council Presidency, we want to do everything we can to ensure that the agreement can provisionally enter into force on January 1st, 2021. "

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn

"It's not all perfect, but a deal is better than no deal"

Gero Hocker, German Fisheries Association

"December 24th, 2020 will go down in history as a black day for European fisheries, fishermen and their families as well as the coastal regions in Europe and Germany."

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"The German companies are losing a historically grown status quo in the distribution of fishing rights, while the British fishermen are the clear winners of the negotiations," said Hocker.

The result was also a "failure for the federal government, which was unable to protect German companies from the effects of Brexit".

Hildegard Müller, Association of the Automotive Industry

"With the result that has become known, the risk of a 'no deal' has been eliminated, and companies can finally prepare for the implementation of a free trade agreement."