Brussels, Feb 1 (IANS): Britain's withdrawal from the European Union is "a wound for all of us" but also the start of "a new relationship" with "our British friends", European Parliament President David Sassoli tweeted on Friday.
"Today marks a wound for all of us. But it also marks a new beginning. From tomorrow, we start a new relationship with the UK," read the tweet.
"We will defend our interests and protect our European identity, but we will always act with a sense of brotherhood to our British friends," he added.
Britain is due to leave the EU on Friday after 47 years of membership in what is a major blow to 70 years of efforts to forge European unity after the devastation wrought on the continent by World War II.
Little will actually change until during the transitional period until the end of 2020, by when British Premier Boris Johnson has vowed to get a major free trade deal with the EU.