Last week, the European Parliament voted on the Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). It was a historic moment, as the agreement lays the groundwork for the UK’s departure from the EU on January 31, 2020.
The Withdrawal Agreement has been a long time in the making. Negotiations between the EU and the UK began in June 2016, following the UK’s referendum to leave the EU. After months of back-and-forth, a draft agreement was reached in November 2018. However, it was rejected three times by the UK Parliament, resulting in a delay to the UK’s departure from the EU.
The agreement was revised in October 2019, and a new version was reached by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the EU. This time around, it was approved by the UK Parliament, and on January 29, 2020, it was put to a vote in the European Parliament.
The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement, with 621 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voting in favor, 49 voting against, and 13 abstaining. The result was not surprising, as the agreement had already been approved by the European Commission and the Council of the EU.
The Withdrawal Agreement covers a range of issues, including citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, and the border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (part of the EU). One of the key elements of the agreement is the transitional period, which will last until December 31, 2020. During this time, the UK will remain in the EU’s single market and customs union, but will not have any decision-making power.
The agreement is not perfect, and there are concerns about its impact on the UK’s economy and its relationship with the EU in the long term. However, it is a significant step forward in the UK’s departure from the EU, and provides some clarity for businesses and citizens on both sides of the channel.
Overall, the European Parliament’s vote on the Withdrawal Agreement is an important milestone in the Brexit process, and paves the way for the UK to officially leave the EU on January 31, 2020.