Commenting on the conclusions of the Extraordinary European
Council of 25 November, where heads of state or government
backed the negotiated withdrawal agreement and the
political declaration regarding future relations with the
UK, members of the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering
Group underlined the gravity of the moment.
The Withdrawal agreement is the “only and best deal
possible taking into account the UK government’s red lines
and EU founding principles: integrity of the Single market,
indivisibility of the four freedoms and the autonomy of the
EU’s decision-making” stressed Guy
Verhofstadt (ALDE, BE), the EP’s Brexit
coordinator.
“It is now the time for ratification by the UK, the
European Parliament and the Council”underlined
. “Leaving
the EU cannot be business as usual, there is no added value
to this negotiation”, but the agreement reached
allows for an orderly withdrawal. He underlined, that the
political declaration approved last Sunday paves the way
for an ambitious cooperation of an “unprecedented
scope” in the future with the UK.
In line with article 50 of the EU
Treaty, the European Parliament is set to vote on the
withdrawal agreement in early 2019, before the final vote
of the Council.
You can watch the plenary
debate via EP
Live and EbS+.
Speakers’ interventions are available by clicking on the
links below.
Opening statement by
Karoline EDTSTADLER, Austrian presidency and Michel
BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator for
Article 50 Negotiations with the UK
Guy
VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Parliament's coordinator
for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU
(EPP, DE)
Robert
GUALTIERI (S&D, IT)
(ECR, UK)
(GREENS/EFA, BE)
(GUE/NGL,
DE)
(EFDD, UK)
(ENF, FR)
Closing statement by
Michel BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator
for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK
