Live Replay of the debate on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU during the plenary session in Brussels (30-31/01/2019)

Brussels

Brexit (T)

debate

plenary session

CIOT, Melania-Gabriela (RO)

The UK’s withdrawal from the EU: opening statement by Melania CIOT, Romanian State Secretary for European Affairs, for the Romanian Presidency (16:19 - 16:25)

SOUNDBITE (English), Melania-Gabriela CIOT, Romanian Secretary of State for European Affairs, Honourable members two weeks ago I recall the steps already taken on the council side following the European Council endorsement of the agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and your right arm and approval of the political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK last November.

This was just after having learned the outcome of the meaningful vote in Westminster, an outcome we can only regret. We were all hoping that at least this would have been a wake up call leading the UK government and the British Parliament to come out with a clear sense of direction and timing. From what I understand from yesterday vote this is not the case and we face more rather than less uncertainty.

What are the alternative arrangements. PM May has now been instructed to negotiate with the EU. How can we reconcile the intention to discuss alternative arrangement with the clear EU position that the withdrawal agreement is the best possible compromise text achieved in the negotiations. I don't want to speculate on how the various options on the table will unfold. But this is clear that the state of affairs makes a disorderly exit of the UK more likely still and its consequences more serious for all of us.

But in particular for the UK economic operators are increasingly vocal about the impact of this uncertainty not only in terms of direction but also of timing on their activities investment and therefore jobs it is also clear that this uncertainty and the tensions it leads to a sectoral and national level will father test our unity and resolve. It is therefore all the more necessary. On the one hand to resist the temptation of bilateral ideas and on the other to reflect our common purpose in the swift adoption of the necessary contingency measures the responsibility for ensuring the UK ratification of the deal remains with the UK government.

Our determination to proceed should however confirm the UK Government in its effort to complete their part of the ratification process. In this respect within the limits of our principles and positions notably as regards citizen's right and the Irish backstop one should remain open to talks and clarifications. If this can have the ratification process in the UK while having been clear that a renegotiation of the agreement is not on the cards which should therefore stand ready to act once the UK government will have clarified the next steps on its side. In the meantime we continue the ratification process in the EU which I understand is also moving on in the European Parliament as well.