MEPs take stock of the implementation of the rules governing EU-UK relations since 2020, including the recent Windsor Framework deal. Opening statement by Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D,PT), Rapporteur, by Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D,AT), AFET, Seán KELLY (EPP,IE), INTA; Loránt VINCZE (EPP,RO), LIBE; by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight and by Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP,ES), PETI.

Brexit (T)

statement

Strasbourg

EU - United Kingdom (T)

plenary session

KELLY, Seán (EPP, IE)

SILVA PEREIRA, Pedro (S&D, PT)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

joint debate

MONTSERRAT, Dolors (EPP, ES)

VINCZE, Loránt (EPP, RO)

SCHEIDE, Joachim (DE)

Joint debate - EU-UK relations: Opening statement by Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D,PT), Rapporteur, Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D,AT), Seán KELLY (EPP,IE); Loránt VINCZE (EPP,RO), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, VP of the EC, and by Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP,ES)

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, Thank you, sir. Vice-President Maro&scaron; &Scaron;efčovič. Dear colleagues, time flies. Believe it or not, almost seven years have passed since the Brexit referendum and more than three years have gone since the entry into force of the withdrawal agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, As rapporteur for the implementation of the Brexit agreement, I am glad to say that fortunately we are here not only to assess what happened in the last three years, where the sorry to tell is not always pleasant, but also to look into the future of the EU-UK relations in light of the recently Announced Windsor Framework and your joint understanding about the terms for a more flexible but also more effective implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, This development is of utmost importance. The UK's continuous breach of its agreed legal commitments under the protocol was by far the most serious issue in the implementation of the withdrawal agreement. The lack of customs checks in the Irish Sea and the insufficient sharing of customs data with the EU obviously endangered the integrity of the EU's single market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, It's worth recalling that the Northern Ireland Protocol was the agreed solution to prevent a physical border on the island of Ireland, so that the Good Friday Agreement is fully safeguarded while protecting the integrity of the EU Single Market. A dialogue on a flexible but effective implementation of the Portugal, as many times suggested by the European Commission, was always the right thing to do, not until the unilateral actions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, Besides the new customs data sharing arrangements, the key element of the Windsor Framework is a distinction between a green lane in the Irish Sea, with no border controls for goods entering Northern Ireland for final consumption there, in Northern Ireland, and a red line with EU customs, sanitary and phytosanitary procedures for those goods entering Northern Ireland, but at risk of entering the EU Single Market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, Together with the so-called Stormont Brake, allowing for members of the Northern Ireland Assembly to stop in exceptional circumstances future regulatory divergences introduced by the EU. These joint understanding give us reasons to believe that an important turn of a page can happen in the EU-UK relations. Moreover, we hope to see powersharing returning to Northern Ireland, so that we can all properly celebrate the 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, Therefore, as rapporteur for the implementation of the withdrawal agreement, I propose to the European Parliament that we warmly welcome to Announced Windsor Framework. And to that effect I table a few amendments updating the report to this important development. Furthermore, I would like to warmly congratulate Vice-President   Maroš Šefčovič and all his team for this remarkable political achievement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, One last word on citizens rights, a top priority for this Parliament, we welcome the UK establishment of the EU settlement scheme and a wish: 7 million European citizens have asked for the recognition of their residence rights, 55% of those got the permanent settled status, but however, we note that 39% of the applicants, about 2.7 million, only got the so-called PRE-SETTLED status. So we will monitor the situation to ensure that they get the permanent status as soon as they fulfil the legal requirements.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Rapporteur, And finally, we still ask the British Government to provide the documents serving physical proof of residence rights, so people don't have to face practical difficulties in their daily life. So improvements are still needed for sure, but I believe that hope should be the right tone for today's debate. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Seán KELLY, MEP 7 - 9th parliamentary terms, So, I welcome the political agreement on the Windsor Framework and commend particularly Vice-President Šefčovič and his team on achieving this result, which is the product of much effort and patience. The new arrangements address the real life concerns of citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland, while also ensuring that the EU's single market is protected through a number of safeguards.

SOUNDBITE (English), Seán KELLY, MEP 7 - 9th parliamentary terms, It is a balanced agreement grounded on an understanding of trust between the EU and the UK. Trust, which I hope we can continue to build on as we move forward. I support in particular the efforts made by the Commission to give Northern Irish politicians and stakeholders a voice in the governance of the protocol, especially through the Stormont Brake. This is an important and welcome development. Now, the focus turns to making this agreement a reality. With the Parliament here, I think we will take the necessary steps to implement the new arrangements as swiftly and as effectively as possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Seán KELLY, MEP 7 - 9th parliamentary terms, But we will also need political will and responsible leadership, especially from the DUP, in order to make the agreement effective, I hope that can be achieved. As we approach, the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, I sincerely hope to see the Windsor Framework implemented and return to power sharing in Northern Ireland. Stability and certainty will allow citizens and businesses to avail of the economic opportunities that the new agreement provides for Northern Ireland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Seán KELLY, MEP 7 - 9th parliamentary terms, And sure that the next 25 years would be as much about prosperity as the last 25 years was about peace. It is time that we put this long and drawn out discussions and the protocol behind us. I hope now that we can move forward with a constructive and forward looking EU-UK relationship. And again, thanks to all involved and especially, once again, Commissioner  Šefčovič, who was outstanding all through this process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Thank you very much. Mr. President, Honourable Members, first and foremost, thank you for your invitation to this joint debate on the implementation of the Withdrawal agreement and the recent developments around the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss the important progress made in the relationship between the EU and the UK.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I believe that this is very well captured in the report and in particular the amendments reflecting the recent important progress in our relationship that Mr. Pedro Silva PEREIRA put forward today. And I want to thank him not only for this timely report, but also for our excellent cooperation over the years. And my gratitude and thanks goes to all honourable members in the UK Coordination Group and in many bilateral meetings we have, I would say, with almost everyone in the room when we have been discussing this very important relationship with the United Kingdom.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Honourable Members, the United Kingdom, as we discussed in our previous meetings, is an important partner and a close political ally for the EU, with our excellent cooperation in support of our Ukrainian friends being a testimony to that. In our discussions. Protecting the rights of citizens after Brexit was of the utmost importance, and I was reminded of that by our discussions. We had to beat in the UK or in our bilateral meetings.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, And I really would like to reassure the honourable members that it remains a priority for us to ensure that beneficiaries of the withdrawal agreement continue to enjoy the same rights and benefits. But we also knew it was vital not only to fix the problems of today, but to set our bilateral relationship down the right path to overcome the issues of tomorrow.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&scaron; &Scaron;EFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, And for that we needed to find solutions to the challenges that have emerged in the implementation of the protocol over the past two years. In recent months, we have had intensive talks with our UK counterparts in order to find these solutions, solutions for real life concerns around the operation of the protocol affecting people and businesses on the ground. President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Sunak have been in regular touch throughout the process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I have also remained in regular and close contact with my counterpart, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, but also the State Secretary responsible for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris. The Commission and the UK Government think spare no efforts to find joint solutions. And I can tell you that they've been working very, very hard. I am delighted to say that these hard work, determination and political will has delivered results.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&scaron; &Scaron;EFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, As you know, on the 27th of February, a new way forward that Windsor Framework was announced by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Sunak. A way forward that consists of a joint solution that will address in a definitive manner the concerns and challenges we have experienced over the last two years, a way forward that protects the legitimate interests of both the EU and the UK. A way forward that addresses all areas concern food, medicines, customs, VAT and excise, state aid, tariff rate quotas, governance and stakeholders engagement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, These solutions respond to the concrete needs of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, but they also have been carefully crafted so as to ensure that the EU single market is protected. In particular, the role of the European Court of Justice has not changed. It remains the sole and final arbiter of the EU law. But there is now a strong political commitment to solve future challenges together before they turn into disputes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Vitally, the time of unilateral action is behind us. We welcome the public commitment from the UK government that the Northern Ireland Protocol will is stopped from proceeding in the UK Parliament and will thus fall. The Windsor Framework allows us to turn the page and work through the mutual trust on fully implementing our agreements because the solutions we have found together are co-owned and are therefore set to be fully implemented by both sides.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Honourable Members, the visa framework is an important achievement for both, the UK and the EU. Its implementation is a key, on our side we know, that we can count on the support of this House to deliver on important legislative proposals that are a key part of the joint solutions. Your support, as always, will be crucial, and I know that thanks to our collective work, we can look to the future with confidence.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, As Mr. Seán Kelly underlined, next months will see the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement. Our work on the Windsor Framework will allow us to continue to protect the hard earned peace gains emanating from that momentous accord. The framework is there to benefit people in Northern Ireland and support all communities celebrating peace on the island of Ireland. And in the last 25 years being about the peace, the next 25 years should be about the peace and prosperity. Thank you very much.