The Constitutional Affairs Committee agreed on Thursday to recommend that the EP plenary should approve the UK withdrawal terms.
After parliamentary ratification in the UK was concluded earlier today, with Royal Assent granted for the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill,聽聽MEPs voted in favour of a positive recommendation regarding the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, with 23 votes for, three against and no abstentions.
The vote took place after a statement by Committee Chair聽聽(EPP, IT) and a discussion between the Parliament鈥檚 Brexit coordinator聽聽(Renew Europe, BE) and political group coordinators.
The debate in the Committee focussed on Parliament鈥檚 contribution to聽聽in the context of Brexit (with the majority of speakers during the first round commending the EU鈥檚 negotiating team), as well as the聽聽to continue protecting these rights during the transition period and beyond. The discussion also addressed the overall impact of Brexit and the future relationship between the EU and the UK, which is going to be the objective of the future negotiations.
You can watch the debate on聽. Click on the links below for specific parts of the meeting.
聽by Chair Antonio Tajani
聽by the rapporteur Guy Verhofstadt
聽by the shadow rapporteurs
聽by MEPs on behalf of political groups
聽of the vote
Statements by MEPs after the vote:聽听补苍诲听
Next steps
The UK鈥檚 withdrawal from the EU is set for midnight CET on 31 January 2020, with Parliament scheduled to vote on the Agreement next Wednesday, 29 January. To enter into force, any withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK needs to be approved by the European Parliament by a simple majority of votes cast (). The Council will then conclude the process on the EU side by a qualified majority vote, foreseen for 30 January.
europarl.europa.eu
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