British Prime Minister Theresa May has addressed the House of Commons after triggering Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union.

The UK prime minister said that there can be "no turning back" from Brexit as the Article 50 has been triggered.

She added that she wants the UK to be global and the best friend of the EU.

She said that she is aware of possible consequences of Britain's exit from the EU.

Britain will remain being a committed partner of the EU after Brexit, she said, adding that the UK will help Europe defend itself from threats.

May revealed the content of the letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, saying that she called for a deep special partnership is in the best interests of the EU and the UK. The UK prime minister added that in the letter, she set out ensuring protection of rights of EU nationals in Britain and UK citizens in the EU as a priority.

Theresa May said that the UK devolved administrations will receive more powers after Brexit. She added that a White Paper on law changes will be published on Thursday.

UK Permanent Representative to the European Union Tim Barrow gave a letter of official notification of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the bloc signed by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to Tusk earlier on Wednesday.

After the letter is received by the European Council, the two-year countdown on Brexit negotiations will begin.

According to the rules set out by the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the country which wishes to withdraw from the bloc has to do so two years after the official notification. Therefore, the United Kingdom should leave the European Union on March 29, 2019.

The European Union member states' permanent representatives are expected to gather on Friday to draft a detailed Brexit negotiations plan, which would be considered at the April 27 European Council meeting and the April 29 Special European Council on Article 50.

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum to determine whether or not the country should leave the European Union. The majority of Britons supported the decision to leave the 28-nation bloc.