Live Replay of the debate on the debate of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU during the plenary session in Strasbourg (14-17 January 2019)  The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

BARNIER, Michel (FR)

The UK’s withdrawal from the EU: opening statement by Michel BARNIER, EC Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK (08:47 - 09:00)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11237596/I166570_03Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Original), Michel BARNIER, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Ladies and gentlemen, member of the parliament, Mr Vice President, Madam the Secretary of State. The European Commission takes note of the vote of House of Commons last night. I said by our first vice president Frans Timmermans. The House of Commons voted yesterday with a clear crystal clear majority against the withdrawl agreement which are European Council agreed with the British government in November and which you welcomed as the European Parliament.

It is the fruit of constructive work throughout the negotiations on both sides it is the result of a constructive attitude which will be ours where we mine to the very end. We must be remain calm. We must be united. We must continue dialogue and we must be transparent. It is up to the UK government now to explain how the UK will take things forward to organize the orderly withdrawal that it asked for itself. And beyond that orderly withdrawal how it will work with us on building up an ambitious and sustainable partnership.

<p>Right now, It's too early to assess all the consequences of this vote. We have always respected and we continue to respect the democratic parliamentary debate in the UK. And I will not speculate on the different scenarios. What yesterday's vote showed that the political conditions for the ratification of the agreement are not yet there in London. We regret profoundly this vote as President Juncker has said. Ladies and gentlemen is obviously also linked to the intense work we have done together with you with Europe breakfast in group for two years but also with the British government based on the red lines of the British government and based on the realities of leaving the EU.</p>

We profoundly regret this vote because we built this withdrawal agreement together with the British government on an objective basis taking into account our shared demands to ensure that we don't have a border with Ireland and preserving allowing the UK to preserve the integrity of its territory and together with the British government. We mapped out the framework for the future relationship which we would like to be as close and ambitious as possible and as the British red lines will allow.

Ladies and gentlemen listening to the public statements made by the members of the Chamber of Commons of the House of Commons we regret to say it made us sad. They were of course due to various motivations sometimes quite contradictory or opposing views. Objectively speaking. This vote is not a clear manifestation of a positive majority which would define an alternative project an alternative to the proposal on the table today. So in this context asMr. Timmermans said it's up to the British authorities today or tomorrow to assess the outcome of this vote and up to the British government to indicate how we are to take things forward on the twenty ninth of March towards an orderly withdrawal as the presence of the European Council Mr Tusk reminded us last night.

Ladies and gentlemen contrary to what has been said over the last few days or weeks the agreement that we reached with the British government has almost 600 pages long is a good agreement. Actually it is the result of course of a compromise but it's the best possible compromise and again we worked in an objective manner.

This brings legal certainty everywhere where Brexit has actually created uncertainties such as is the case in all separations certainty for the citizens for the UK citizens for the European citizens of the other 27 member states of the EU their rights are now guaranteed sustainably these rights have always been our priority. Your priority here in the European Parliament and protecting these rights will continue to be our priority.

Whatever the outcome now public or private bodies whether we're talking about the UK or authorities in the various 27 member states all the undergoing programs will be maintained thanks to the agreement that we have reached since security and stability for Ireland and Northern Ireland a return of a hard border would be avoided thanks to a solution which would preserve the integrity of the United Kingdom on the one hand and the Single Market on the other. Respecting the respect with the respect of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement which we committed ourselves to respecting and this is why the backstop. Ladies and gentlemen which we agreed to with the UK must remain a backstop must remain a credible backstop the backstop must be a backstop.

It must be credible security for administrations and businesses who would be given a transitional period. The only legal bases I might remind you is the withdrawal agreement under which they would have time to prepare and adapt to the new situation. So this compromise also of course gives us with the transition time to negotiate our future relationship on the basis of a political declaration which we have also ratified with the European with the UK government and this political declaration allows various possible options but still respecting our fundamental principles but in any case whatever happens ratification of this withdrawal agreement is necessary.

It is a precondition to create mutual trust amongst ourselves in the looking forward to the second round of negotiations which will start as soon as possible on our future relationship. Now with regard to this future relationship which of course is the most important thing for the future for the future of our continent. I would like to remind you that your parliament and unanimously the European Council have always said that if the United Kingdom chooses to shift its red lines in the future and if it makes that choice it makes a choice to be more ambitious to go beyond a simple free trade agreement which would be quite something then the European Union will be immediately ready to go hand in hand with that development and to give a favorable response with regard to the future relationship.

President. Ladies and gentlemen I'm not only talking about economics and trade and exchanges that are so important for growth and jobs. I'm talking about sectoral cooperation in your committees. Of course are very very following all these developments very closely. Research for example fisheries a very important sector aviation and transport and many many other sectors as well. I'm talking about police and judicial cooperation which will be necessary of course after Brexit. And I'm also of course talking about stability on our continent security.

The United Kingdom is a large company and member of the Security Council of the United Nations a an ally and a friend will always be a partner in foreign policy and development and cooperation and in any matters pertaining to defence ladies and gentlemen we have worked collectively over the last 18 months. And this was validated at all key moments by the British government by the European Council by yourselves. Here in this European Parliament now now with this standstill with the and until we have found a way forward which will receive a full majority or better majority we won't be able to move forward. So this is why the future steps must be indicated very clearly as you have said by the British government President ladies and gentlemen orderly withdrawal will remain our absolute priority in the coming weeks.

<p>Having said that as I speak to you we cannot exclude any scenario. And this is particularly true of the scenario we always wanted to avoid. And that was the no deal scenario. It's the 16th of January today. We're only ten weeks away from the end of the month of March. That is to say the moment chosen by the British government to be for it to be come a third country and 10 weeks from that date we are fearing more than ever that there is a risk of a no deal and we still are focused on avoiding that scenario. But at the same time we must remain lucid and clear in our approach which is why we are stepping up our efforts to be prepared for that possibility.</p>

This work in the services of the Commission and the secretary general have begun months back with the member states and with yourselves in the Parliament and we will have to speed up our efforts working together with all the stakeholders and partners who will be called on to take contingency measures to face possible consequences of that outcome. Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your trust in me and us our conviction. I would repeat as Mr Timmermans has reminded us is that the compromise that we reached after 18 months with the British government remains today the best possible compromise.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Barnier I'm going to top the gun expressing Parliament's confidence. I think it was very clear at the end of your speech. Our sitting group working hard close toMr. Barnier for a good solution over the Brexit. I want to thank first of all the leader of our sitting group. He said it also but also the other members of the European Parliament walking out on this issue. Thank you very much.