European Parliament FINALLY backs post-Brexit trade deal by 660 votes to five in step towards easing tensions
- The European Parliament has finally approved the post-Brexit trade agreement
- The deal was sealed before Christmas but only provisionally in force since then
- Ursula von der Leyen hailed the vote by 660 to five after it was confirmed today
The European Parliament has approved the post-Brexit trade deal in a potential step towards easing tensions.
The result of the vote was announced in Brussels this morning, with 660 MEPs in favour and just five opposed.
The ballot took place yesterday, but coronavirus working restrictions meant the result was not immediately declared.
The trade agreement has been provisionally in force since being agreed by Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before Christmas.
Both sides will hope it can draw a line under four years of acrimonious negotiations and debate.
The result of the vote was announced in Brussels this morning, with 660 MEPs in favour and just five opposed
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the vote and said the Trade and Co-operation Agreement ‘marks the foundation of a strong and close partnership with the UK’
There had been fears that the European Parliament was withholding approval as a pressure tactic in the row over the Northern Ireland protocol.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the vote and said the Trade and Co-operation Agreement ‘marks the foundation of a strong and close partnership with the UK’.
But in an acknowledgement of EU concerns about the Prime Minister’s approach to deals with Brussels, she warned that ‘faithful implementation is essential’.
Leading MEP Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: ‘The @Europarl_EN approves the EU – UK trade & cooperation agreement! The first trade deal in history to put up barriers & remove freedoms? A failure for both sides, but better than nothing.’