Tears and cheers as EU lawmakers give final nod to Brexit

[webfact 51,863]

Tears and cheers as EU lawmakers give final nod to Brexit

By Gabriela Baczynska and Jakub Riha

 

Britain's Ambassador to the European Union Tim Barrow delivers the instruments of ratification for Brexit, to European Council Secretary General Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/Pool

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Parliament gave final approval to Britain's divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, paving the way for the country to quit the bloc on Friday after nearly half a century and delivering a major setback for European integration.

 

After an emotional debate during which several speakers shed tears, EU lawmakers voted 621 for and 49 against the Brexit agreement sealed between Britain and the 27 other member states last October, more than three years since Britons voted out.

 

Thirteen lawmakers abstained and the chamber then broke into a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, a traditional Scottish folk song of farewell. Britain's 73 departing EU lawmakers headed for an "Au Revoir" party in the EU chamber after the vote.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Britain's ambassador to the EU handed documents formalising Brexit to a senior EU official. Against a backdrop of British and EU flags at the bloc's Brussels headquarters, Tim Barrow, smiling, passed over a dark blue leather file embossed with the emblem of the United Kingdom.

 

After protracted divorce talks, Britain will leave the club it joined in 1973 at midnight Brussels time (2300 GMT) on Friday, when British flags will be removed from EU offices and the EU flag lowered on the British premises there.

 

With a status-quo transition period running only until year-end, fresh talks - covering everything from trade to security - will begin soon on a new relationship.

 

"We are considering a zero-tariff, zero-quotas free trade agreement. But the precondition is that EU and British businesses continue to compete on a level playing field. We will certainly not expose our companies to unfair competition," European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen told the chamber.

 

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier told envoys of the remaining 27 members earlier on Wednesday that a loose association agreement like the EU has with Ukraine should serve as the basis for new relations, diplomatic sources said.

 

"We will not give ground on issues that are important to us," Barnier said, according to sources briefed on the closed-door meeting.

 

"THE UK DIDN'T FIT"

On his last working day as a member of the European Parliament, leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage told reporters there was "no going back" once the UK leaves.

 

"The UK didn't fit, we'd be better off out," he said, describing euroscepticism as a settled view in the UK, where "Leave" won the 2016 referendum by a narrow 52 to 48 percent margin.

 

He said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised him there would be no so-called 'level playing field' clauses on fair competition in the new EU-UK deal, highlighting a major point of contention with the bloc in the coming talks.

 

As Farage beamed, his Brexit Party lawmakers waved goodbye to the chamber with mini Union Jack flags and chanted "Hurray!", but their Socialist compatriot Jude Kirton-Darling choked back tears.

 

"It's probably the saddest day of my life so far. Brexit is something that attacks the very foundation of our identity," said Kirton-Darling, who plans to stay in Brussels with her Belgian husband.

 

Guy Verhofstadt, a liberal EU lawmaker from Belgium and a staunch europhile, lamented Brexit as a historic debacle: "It's sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, twice gave its blood to liberate Europe."

 

As a new reality dawns on Europe from Saturday, the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU, or UKRep, will become a foreign mission - already dubbed "UKmissEU" by some.

 

(Additional reporting by Marine Strauss, Yves Herman and Christian Levaux, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by John Chalmers and Gareth Jones)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-30

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[ukrules 13,340]

They tried every trick in the book to prevent this and failed on every count

[mogandave 7,082]

That was quick...

[daveAustin 9,766]

Quote

"It's probably the saddest day of my life so far. Brexit is something that attacks the very foundation of our identity," said Kirton-Darling

Cry me a river, you silly lady! And speak for yourself; it is not our identity and never was. 

[scubascuba3 4,823]

Those crying it's more likely because they won't be getting paid anymore by the gravy train

[daveAustin 9,766]

Quote

Guy Verhofstadt, a liberal EU lawmaker from Belgium and a staunch europhile, lamented Brexit as a historic debacle: "It's sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, twice gave its blood to liberate Europe."

And yet you repeatedly berate the place that would lead to said freedom, and to enjoy a comfortable life at the expense of massive net contributors like the UK. Suck it up but don't come whining for thrice liberation when Putin starts carving you up.

[mike787 2,697]

thank god, finally this nonsense will end... 

[JonnyF 7,178]

Finally.

 

The will of the people overcame the political elites, the globalist corporations and the anti democratic federalists. And they did it through the ballot box with huge patience and dignity despite being demonized by the losing side, a spiteful vocal minority who refused to give losers consent.

 

An epic victory for Democracy.

 

 

[jabis 1,114]

Quote

 Brexit Party lawmakers waved goodbye to the chamber with mini Union Jack flags and chanted "Hurray!", but their Socialist compatriot Jude Kirton-Darling choked back tears.

 above quote translated to emojis

[steve187 4,844]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 but their Socialist compatriot Jude Kirton-Darling choked back tears.

 

"It's probably the saddest day of my life so far. Brexit is something that attacks the very foundation of our identity," said Kirton-Darling, who plans to stay in Brussels with her Belgian husband.

more likely crying over the loss of wages and pension, and expenses

[jesimps 6,172]

3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Cry me a river, you silly lady! And speak for yourself; it is not our identity and never was. 

"It's probably the saddest day of my life so far. Brexit is something that attacks the very foundation of our identity," said Kirton-Darling, who plans to stay in Brussels with her Belgian husband."

 

No ulterior motive there then.

 

[TKDfella 1,527]

Well, finally...that is finally the UK government can resume (dare I say) 'normal' function of what it is supposed to be doing. Perhaps the UK can get back to some kind of stability and begin building on old relationships and a few new ones too.

[tomacht8 5,572]

5 hours ago, daveAustin said:

And yet you repeatedly berate the place that would lead to said freedom, and to enjoy a comfortable life at the expense of massive net contributors like the UK. Suck it up but don't come whining for thrice liberation when Putin starts carving you up.

2017, the net contribution to the EU budget was 0.47% of the UK GDP. That's not exactly massive. And the positive impact of the 0.47% UK contribution on the UK GDP itself is multiple.

If you can calculate, it helps in many cases.

[hotchilli 7,603]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

After protracted divorce talks, Britain will leave the club it joined in 1973

Which worked well until bureaucrats became involved and turned it into a monster that only serves itself!

[Rookiescot 2,794]

Yup. You Brexiteers won. Well done.

Now you just need to deliver on ALL the promises made and deal with the consequences of your actions.