During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate UK’s withdrawal from the EU after the outcome of the vote on Brexit in the UK House of Commons. Extracts from the closing statement by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Right.

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Strasbourg

EU - United Kingdom (T)

debate

plenary session

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

European Council meeting 21-22 March 2019 (T)

UK’s withdrawal from the EU: extracts from the closing statement by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, I come to the conclusion that there is very very broad support in the Parliament for the way the Commission is negotiating on behalf of the European Union, its Member States and this Parliament, to try and reach an agreement with the United Kingdom on a withdrawal which would do as little harm as possible to both sides. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Having listened to Mr. Farage and his colleagues, I sometimes wonder, has he gone to Sunderland and talked to the workers at the Nissan Plants and said to them. 'It might cost you your job, but I will get my pipe dream of so-called sovereignty. But it might cost you your job sorry, but I will get my pipe dream of so-called sovereignty.' Has he done that?

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Has Dr. Liam Fox ever said, well I said it would be the easiest trade deal in human history, but on second thoughts, it is much more complicated than I promised before the referendum.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Has Boris Johnson gone to the doctors and nurses of the NHS (National Health Service) and said, 'I did promise 350 million extra pounds a week. But sorry, I can't deliver on that promise.' Have they done that? I think frankly that we would need, if we want to come out of that situation, a bit more modesty and honesty on all sides. (Applause follows).

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, I also believe, I just referred to a report by the UK government, published in November last year, where it said that if there is a no-deal Brexit, this would cost approximately 9.3% economic growth. Are you willing to pay that price, I ask the Brexiters on this side. Are you willing to pay that price? Are you willing to sacrifice all those jobs for your pipe dream of so-called sovereignty? What is that sovereignty going to bring to you if you believe that pipe dream? </p>  <p></p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, I always hear, do you hear, do you understand the number 16.1 million? I never hear it mentioned. I always hear 17.4 million. Yes. But, 16.1 million are also British citizens who voted to stay. They haven't disappeared. Isn't the essence of European democracy that we also respect the position of minorities in our countries? (Followed by applause)

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, And to be very clear, to be very clear, why does the Commission stand so firmly for the integrity of the internal market? Why do we simply say lets have open borders? I give you one example. If for some reason the United Kingdom would decide to have a trade deal with the United States on their terms and chlorinated chicken would be coming into the United Kingdom and we would not be able to check that at a European border, then we would not be able to say to the European citizens that we can't protect you against something you don't want. We could never do that. That's why we have to always protect the integrity of the internal market. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, And I do pay tribute to Michel Barnier. We spared no effort to try and reconcile Madam May's red lines and her demands with our firm duty to protect the European Union and the integrity of the internal market. The Withdrawal agreement is the best and only possible solution to that dilemma. 