The Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) exchange of views on the state of play of the negotiations with Guy VERHOFSTADT, Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, and Danuta Maria HÜBNER, member of the Parliament's Brexit Steering Group, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

exchange of views

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Brexit (T)

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

meeting

HÜBNER, Danuta Maria (EPP, PL)

Brexit: extracts from the exchange of views on the state of play of the negotiations with Guy VERHOFSTADT, Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, and Danuta Maria HÜBNER

SOUNDBITE (English), Danuta Maria H&#220;BNER (EPP, PL), We will continue with the current composition of the Parliament and, eventually, the additional elected Members of the European Parliament will finally join the Parliament together, once the exit of the UK becomes effective.

SOUNDBITE (English), Danuta Maria H&#220;BNER (EPP, PL), Whatever the solution with the Brexit is - this does not prevent the Parliament from regularly constituting itself, when the time comes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, EP coordinator for the negotiations with the UK (MEP), An exit without an agreement would be a tragedy, would be a catastrophe in every respect. Certainly, for the European Union, but, certainly also, even more for the United Kingdom.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, There are limits on what we can accept. For us the backstop are not negotiable and our EU principles are non negotiable. I meant, the four freedoms, the integrity of the single market and other principles. We are open for a more deeper and closer relationship, than the relationship that is on the table now in the political declaration. The risk of the no-deal, however, has increased. No-deal planning needs to be intensified and, finally, citizens can never pay the price for the no-deal. And we need to do everything what is in our competences, in out power, in the possibilities we have to avoid that citizens are victims of such a no-deal scenario. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, Contingency are, in our opinion, unilateral temporary measures to mitigate the most significant affects of the UK withdrawal without a deal. Without a withdrawal agreement in areas that are a vital interest to European Union. And if we don't take them, if we should not take them that would create major disruptions for citizens and businesses in Europe. I will only give you a two examples of it: basic road and air connectivity or aviation safety - are typical problems that we need to tackle with contingency measures in a case of a no-deal scenario. 