London (AFP)
It will have taken three and a half years of crisis and blockages but the way is now clear for the big jump on January 31: the British deputies finally gave the green light to Brexit wanted by Boris Johnson on Thursday.
This vote with historic consequences for the United Kingdom has been somewhat overshadowed in the news by the shock of the "Megxit", the decision of Harry and Meghan to withdraw from the royal family.
It is nonetheless a victory for the Prime Minister, champion of Brexit against all odds, who will have to tackle from February, in record time, to a difficult negotiation on the new relationship, in particular commercial, between London and the 27.
After a debate dispatched in a few sessions, MEPs approved 330 votes for (231 against) the text translating into British law the 535-page agreement concluded in pain by Boris Johnson with the EU in the autumn.
The text must now be validated by the House of Lords and then promulgated by the Queen, which should be a matter of formality. The European Parliament will then have to ratify the treaty. And the United Kingdom will become on January 31 at 23:00 (London time and GMT) the first member country to leave the European Union, after three postponements of this exit, initially scheduled for March 2019.
- "Take back control" -
"It is time to move forward," insisted Brexit Minister Steve Barclay in front of the deputies.
"This text will guarantee our departure from the European Union with an agreement that gives certainty to businesses, protects the rights of our citizens and ensures that we regain control of our money, our borders, our laws and our trade policy" he added, promising to start negotiations "quickly" with the EU to reach a free trade agreement by the end of the year.
On January 31, a page will be turned after the political chaos that has gripped the United Kingdom since the June 2016 referendum, won 52% by the "Leave". During the more than three years which followed, the British were torn apart on the subject and their Parliament rejected the agreement negotiated by ex-Prime Minister Theresa May without proposing any other scenario, raising fears until recently a abrupt exit or renunciation.
This time, the overwhelming majority that Boris Johnson has had in the House of Commons since the legislative elections of December 12 left little room for doubt. But the challenges are not resolved for the bubbling "BoJo", who came to power in July.
The Brexit agreement negotiated with Brussels broadly settles the divorce by guaranteeing in particular the rights of citizens and by solving the headache of the Irish border. Above all, it aims to guarantee a smooth transition to a future relationship that remains to be fully determined.
He plans for this from January 31 a transition period running until the end of 2020, supposed to allow London and Brussels to prepare for it. The British will continue to apply and benefit from European rules, without sitting in European institutions or having a say in decisions.
- Partial agreement -
This period promises to be very short to negotiate free trade or security agreements which, generally, take years to put in place.
For Boris Johnson, there is no question of extending the transition beyond 2020, a possibility provided for by the Brexit agreement.
He said it again on Wednesday to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, whom he received in London. Downing Street has hinted, however, that it could settle for a partial deal if no comprehensive compromise is found by the end of the year.
The head of the European executive has warned that the discussions would be "tough" and that it would be impossible to agree on "all aspects" without extending the negotiations: "We must choose priorities".
She warned that Brussels would remain firm on its principles: "without fair competition in the areas of the environment, labor, taxation and state aid, you cannot have the highest quality access to the largest market common of the world ".
© 2020 AFP