During the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate 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. Statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Roberto GUALTIERI (S&D, IT), Guy VERHOFSTADT, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK, Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE) and Michel BARNIER, EU Chief negotiator for Brexit.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Strasbourg

EU - United Kingdom (T)

debate

plenary session

LAMBERTS, Philippe (Greens/EFA, BE)

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

BROK, Elmar (EPP, DE)

GUALTIERI, Roberto (S&D, IT)

Guidelines on the framework of future EU-UK relations: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, This text which sets out the rights for citizens is more than just a collection of paragraphs. We are talking about thousands and thousands, if not more, biographies; we are talking about life decisions been taken by citizens and we don&rsquo;t want the citizens the fall victims of Brexit. And this is why EU citizens residents in the UK will maintain their rights, retain their rights after Brexit, and if you take a look at the draft withdrawal agreement it is so specific that it means that citizens can go before the British courts in order to seek that their rights are respected.

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 (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, On the 29th of March 2019 at midnight the United Kingdom will have left the European Union. (atmosphere in the Hemicycle) ( in English) Then you will have to come after, when you will regret your decision. (atmosphere in the Hemicycle, applause)

SOUNDBITE (German), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), President Trump took measures against Bombardier in the UK and now is imposing steel and aluminium sanctions against Europe. It's only if we all stand together, including the British, that we have a chance to counter that policy. So the unity of Europe in such issues is the question of survival of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Roberto GUALTIERI (S&amp;D, IT), We want to clarify that the European Union can&rsquo;t delegate to others the control of its own custom borders and that outside the single market there is no mutual recognition of rules. Another thing is regulatory cooperation or alignment and when it comes to financial services, smart use of the present equivalence system is possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK (MEP), Both sides : UK nationals and EU citizens cannot be victims of this whole Brexit pain and anger.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK (MEP), 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, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK (MEP), 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 (English), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), If regulatory divergence is real, it creates a border and no magical thinking can ever erase it! Therefore one of the three elements has to give and I cannot imagine the British government giving up or taking any risk with peace in Northern Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Michel BARNIER, EU Chief negotiator for Brexit, 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.