European Parliament closes harsh Brexit soap opera with trade deal vote
The head of the European Union Task Force on Relations with the United Kingdom, Michel Barnier, surrounded by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (right), during the debate in the European Parliament on the post-Brexit trade agreement between Brussels and London, April 27, 2021. AFP - OLIVIER HOSLET
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The European Parliament has approved the trade deal reached by the EU with the United Kingdom, putting an end to the painful chapter of Brexit, in a context still tense between London and Brussels, according to the result of a vote officially announced this Wednesday April 28.
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At the end of the ballot, held Tuesday evening April 27, 660 deputies approved the text, 5 opposed it and 32 abstained, out of 697 voters.
This treaty "
marks the foundation of a strong and close partnership with the United Kingdom
", reacted the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Twitter.
I warmly welcome the @Europarl_EN vote in favor of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The TCA marks the foundation of a strong and close partnership with the UK.
Faithful implementation is essential.
pic.twitter.com/aTU7cOB5Ck
- Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 28, 2021
"
Faithful implementation is essential
", however insisted Ursula von der Leyen, who has already assured that the EU "
would
not
hesitate
" "
if necessary
" to use against London the unilateral compensation measures provided for by the agreement. .
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, hailed the start of a "
new era
".
I warmly welcome the results of the vote by the @Europarl_EN on the 🇪🇺🇬🇧Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
It marks a major step forward in # EU- # UK relations and opens a new era.
The #EU will continue to work constructively with the #UK as an important friend and partner.
- Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 28, 2021
For his part, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, spoke of “
the last stage of a long journey
” between two trade partners of “
vital importance, close allies and sovereign equals
”.
"
Now is the time to look to the future and build a more inclusive UK
," added the Tory leader.
Great news that the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of our zero tariffs, zero quotas Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Now is the time to look forward to a new relationship with the EU and a more Global Britain.
- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 28, 2021
â–ş
To read also: Is Brexit a good operation
?
"
Historical error
"
The green light from MEPs on the trade agreement concluded
in extremis
on December 24th had become urgent: the provisional application of the text, effective since the beginning of the year, ends on Friday April 30th.
And the UK had ruled out any extension.
The ballot, after a five-hour parliamentary debate, was accompanied by the vote of a non-binding resolution, in which elected officials qualify Brexit as a “
historic error
”.
They also ask to be fully involved in future discussions with London on the governance of this 1,250-page agreement, which Ursula von der Leyen promised on Tuesday.
Confidence crisis and threat of retaliation
Relations between London and Brussels have been deeply affected by the British decision to leave the single market.
Official since January 31, 2020, it has only been effective since the start of the year.
On the trade front, European exports to the UK fell 20.2%, while UK imports into the EU fell 47% in the first two months of 2021, according to Eurostat.
â–ş
To listen: Brexit: companies are suffering from the random application of the accor
Added to this is a crisis of confidence between the two partners, after several Downing Street decisions calling into question the previous agreement concluded with the EU, the 2019 Brexit Treaty, which organizes the divorce.
The Europeans notably accuse London of having violated the Irish protocol contained in this first treaty, by postponing certain customs controls supposed to be carried out between the
British province of Northern Ireland
and the rest of the United Kingdom, in order to avoid the return of a border on the island of Ireland.
In protest, MEPs have long delayed the time to set a date to give the green light to the trade deal.
Other points of friction remain unanswered on both sides of the Channel, such as the recent dispute over the supply of
AstraZeneca vaccines
, or the threat on Tuesday from France to take "
retaliatory measures
" against the British financial services. if the post-Brexit agreement on fisheries was not implemented.
â–ş
To listen: Brexit: chaotic first months
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