Brexit: final debate in the European Parliament before ratification of the agreement
Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, at the European Parliament in Brussels, April 27, 2021 AFP - JOHN THYS
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4 min
After long months of procrastination, MEPs finally vote on April 27 on the European Union's future relations with the United Kingdom.
During a debate in the European Parliament in Brussels, parliamentarians regretted the persistent tensions between London and Brussels and spoke of a crisis of confidence.
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From our correspondent in Brussels
,
Joana Hostein
MEPs blame London for violating the Northern Irish protocol and postponing certain customs and health checks that should be carried out between the British province of Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
"
Today, when we see the implementation of the Irish protocol and the behavior of Boris Johnson, the message is: 'I don't care', 'I don't even care to have signed this agreement'
", regrets Manfred Weber, President of the PPE Group (right).
What about the protection of personal data
The concern also concerns fishing. On the European side, professionals in the sector complain of not having access to British waters. Finally, another concern is the transfer of personal data and their protection. “
It's an open secret that the UK is a world champion in widespread surveillance. How then can we consider as equivalent or adequate the protection measures that the United Kingdom has for personal data when we know that it spies on its own citizens on a massive scale
”,
vituper Philippe Lamberts, co-chairman of the Greens group.
Despite everything, MEPs call for a vote in favor of this agreement.
If only to have retaliatory tools against London - reimposition of quotas or customs duties as a last resort, they recall.
The green light expected on April 27 should not be seen as a blank check, parliamentarians insist.
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To read also
: Brexit: companies suffer from the random application of the agreement
Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, took the floor to express his regret over the divorce.
He wished to recall the role of social anger in the choice of the British to leave the European Union and announced the future conference on the future of Europe which will open in a few days.
EU _Sound Michel Barnier, "Brexit is a divorce"
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