During the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate and vote a resolution laying out the EP’s position on a possible framework for EU-UK future relations. The draft resolution suggests that an association agreement could provide an appropriate framework for the future relationship and stresses that even closely aligned third countries with identical legislation cannot enjoy similar benefits or market access to those of EU member states. The resultas are: 554 in favour, 110 against and 51 abstentions. Statements by ean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Guy VERHOFSTADT and Michel BARNIER.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Strasbourg

EU - United Kingdom (T)

debate

plenary session

vote

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

BARNIER, Michel (FR)

Guidelines on the framework of future EU-UK relations: extracts from the vote and from the debate (13/03)

Views during the e-Vote : chair President launching the vote (6 shots) Resolution as a whole : Total voters :705 In favour: 554 Against: 110 Abstentions: 51 Adopted

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Both the EU and the UK have agreed that there should be no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Good Friday agreement must be preserved in all its dimensions. Life of the citizens of the both sides of the border should be the same as it is today. The draft protocol on Ireland should not come as a surprise or a shock, it translates faithfully the last December's agreement into a legal text.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, Both sides : UK nationals and EU citizens cannot be victims of this whole Brexit pain and anger.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, We still don't have a proposal from the UK side on the future relation of the Union. It's still lacking. And it is true what you have said, there was this Mansion House speech by Mrs May, but it's mainly repeating the red lines that we know already (since) two years.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, So, our proposal, dear colleagues, is to start negotiations on an association agreement between the UK and the EU based on four pillars : one on trade and economics, one on internal security, one on thematic cooperation, for example research, Erasmus, and one on the external security and defence matters, because that's also a very important field of cooperation between UK and EU.

SOUNDBITE (French), Michel BARNIER, We are open for business, it is the UK that is closing doors (in French) I've listened attentively the speech of Mrs May in Mansion House which confirms the doors that the UK is closing itself by confirming the red lines: leaving the single market, recovering trade and regulatory independence, economy never being linked anymore to the European Court of Justice, those are the red lines confirmed by the UK. We are taking act. But then we have to acknowledge that you cannot have at the same time the statute of a third country and request at the same time the advantages which belongs to the Union, and only within the Union.