During the plenary session of the European Parliament (11-14 June 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss their priorities for the 28-29 June meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. The summit is scheduled to focus on migration, security and defence, the EU’s long-term budget, the Brexit talks and Eurozone reform. 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, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Gerard BATTEN (EFDD, LV) and Diane DODDS (NI, UK) debate on Brexit

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

Strasbourg

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

DODDS, Diane (NI, UK)

BATTEN, Gerard (ENF, UK)

joint debate

European Council meeting 28-29 June 2018 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 28 and 29 June 2018: extracts from the debate on Brexit

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, With regard to Brexit too, the EU is united. Our goal is to ensure we together with our British partners do as little harm as possible to either side. And to work together towards an orderly process. In the interest of all citizens in the EU and in the UK, the European Council of June will take stock of a number o issues, in particular the question of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the future relationship between and the UK. We still have 3 more weeks to go, and it is important to use this time to achieve real progress in the interest of all.

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, so we must finally agree that the European Stability Mechanism, that it can take over duties to provide guarantees and that we can make further progress on this front. All of these systems weren't dreamt up overnight, but they are important preliminary preparations, and if I may 'd like to say a word or two about the Multi Annual Financial framework. Before the next elections we need to reach an agreement on this, it is essential.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, Since the beginning of the crisis in the Euro zone we have created 10 million new jobs and we have had 2,5% growth in our economies which in fact is much stronger than the British economy and our British friends, and so we can see that what we have done, we've got some wind now in our sails.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gerard BATTEN (EFDD, LV), We can offer you a free trade agreement, with everything except the free movement of people, or trade on WTO terms. It is going to be your choice anyway, take it or leave it. One way or the other. And we could easily reach an agreement on the reciprocal rights of the citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gerard BATTEN (EFDD, LV), Her MAjsety's Government shouldn't be asking the EU how it can leave, it should be te;ling you how it is going to work. But of course, that is never going to happen under Mrs MAY. Mrs MAY should go now, and make way for a Prime Minister who actually wants to leave the EU. That would be good for us, but it would actually be good for you as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Diane DODDS (NI, UK), Mr BARNIER continues to disrespect the integrity of the UK. The UK govrenment's proposal on the backstop would apply to the entire UK. The Commission response has been to revert to the annexation of Northern Ireland as part of a specific customs or regulatory arrangements. Let me be clear once again in this house. Not only is this damaging to the economy of Northern Ireland, it is a position that te Prime Minister has said that no British Prime Minister could ever agree to.