During the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, and Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, express themselves in front of the press&nbsp;at the end of the vote on the negotiations with the United Kingdom following the notification of ist intention to withdraw from the European Union.&nbsp;

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

referendum on EU membership (T)

statement

Strasbourg

EU - United Kingdom (T)

press point

Negotiations with the UK following its notification that it intends to withdraw from the European Union: extracts from the statements by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, and Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Following an open debate during which a wide range of views were heard, a majority of 516 passed a resolution that clearly defines the European Parliament's initial position onBrexit.The Parliament's message is clear: the interests of our citizens is our first priority. Citizens that live in Europe and living in the UK. An orderly exit, conducted in good faith and in full transparency, is in the interests of both the EU and the UK. In fact it is an absolute requirement and a pre-condition for any potential future EU-UK partnership.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Continued cooperation on defence, police, intelligence and judicial matters with the UK is a shared interest. Terrorism knows no border, and they do not care about Brexit.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We also must work to preserve the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Any possible final deal must be approved by this House. I therefore call on the Council and the Commission to carefully take note of our position as all three institutions will need to work together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, I think it was very important that today with a very large majority, a majority of more than two-thirds, has made clear its position on Brexit, because as the Parliament has to approve the final agreement at the end of the negotiation, the UK on the one hand and the Council on the other hand knows very well now what the position of the Parliament is, what the red lines are of the Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, Citizens first. Borders issue,  the Good Friday Agreement, don't touch it. The Single Market - don't touch it either. The four freedoms need to be respected.

SOUNDBITE(English), GuyVERHOFSTADT(ALDE, BE),EPcoordinator for the negotiations with the UK, We ask to very firm towards the UK authorities, because weacnnotaccept that a status outside the union as a country is more favourable than a membership of the union.

SOUNDBITE(English), GuyVERHOFSTADT(ALDE, BE),EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, We want that the problem of residency is solved immediately. We don't want to wait until the end of the negotiations, it has to be solved immediately. It is the first point that needs to be solved is the status of the EU citizens in the UK and of UK citizens in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK,  If we can agree wit the UK authorities on the principles, that all commitments have to be taken onboard, that all liabilities have to be on the table, also the contingent liabilities, well then it will beeasy at the end, beacuse if you agree on the principles, well then you apply the principles and you have the figure.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, The resolution is saying that we have to examine all possibilities to continue to give rights to UK citizens who want to do so because against their will they loose their EU citizenship and it is an important statement I think and a task for the negotiators now.