The European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Thursday that the EU and Britain had agreed on an outline Brexit deal which still needs to be backed by EU member states and by the respective parliaments.

Barnier said the deal removed uncertainty both citizens. businesses and institutions.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator said the agreement also included the transition period which would last until the end of 2020 "and perhaps one or two years further, subject to joint agreement between the EU and Britain.

An agreement to revise the political declaration was also struck, Barnier said, which would set out the framwork for the future relationship between the bloc and Britain.

Barnier said the deal would be presented to the European Council later in the day.

He added that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the EU he is confident he can get a deal through the House of Commons.