European Union leaders have called for clarity from the UK over Brexit, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party won a large majority in the country's parliamentary elections. 

The Conservatives' victory means the UK's rapid exit from the EU is almost certain, given that the central message of Johnson's campaign was to "get Brexit done."

"We expect, as soon as possible, a vote by the British parliament," said Charles Michel, president of the European Council. "It's important to have clarity."

Johnson was forced to delay a parliamentary vote on his EU withdrawal agreement in September after MPs opposed the deal. These latest election results, in which the Conservatives won a 50-seat majority, will give him the votes he needs to push though the legislation.
 

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier (above), said the EU was ready to "complete the ratification of the withdrawal agreement for an orderly Brexit." 

He also stressed the agreement should be implemented in "all its dimensions," referring to the rights of EU and UK nationals, as well as the peace on the island of Ireland. The so-called Irish backstop – which would become necessary in the event the two sides can't agree on a trade deal – emerged as the main sticking point of Brexit negotiations.  

The UK is set to leave the EU on 31 January 2020.

^{CGTN correspondents across Europe round up the reaction}

The EU's focus now largely shifts to the post-Brexit trade agreement. Currently, the deadline for that is the end of 2020, although the two sides could agree to an extension beyond that date. If they were unable to agree on a deal, or an extension, the two sides would default to trading under World Trade Organization rules, which would mean higher tariffs for both sides.

European leaders offered Johnson their congratulations after the election win.

"Congratulations Boris Johnson on your resounding victory," wrote German chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesperson on Twitter. "I look forward to working with you for the friendship and strong cooperation between our nations."

"It's an enormous victory for him on a personal level and also a very clear result for his party," said Irish leader Leo Varadkar. "I think it's a positive thing that we have a decisive outcome in Britain."

Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz praised Johnson's "impressive electoral victory" and said he hoped the "withdrawal agreement will now hopefully soon be ratified."

While few in Europe were happy about the British decision to leave the bloc, the Conservatives' victory appears to have, for the moment, ended some of the Brexit gridlock that has paralyzed both London and Brussels for several years.