European Parliament: MEPs set to approve Brexit deal in historic vote

The European Parliament is ready to approve the phrases of the UK’s departure from the European Union in an historic vote on Wednesday.

The 751 representatives will debate the Brexit Withdrawal Settlement in Brussels earlier than, it’s extensively anticipated, giving their backing to the UK-EU treaty.

The landmark session is ready to characteristic valedictory speeches and even music.

It is going to mark the ultimate stage of the ratification course of, forward of the UK’s exit at 23:00 GMT on 31 January.

The UK participated in its final assembly as an EU member on Tuesday when Overseas Workplace minister Chris Pincher attended the Normal Affairs Council.

The European Parliament’s approval is the ultimate hurdle to be cleared for Brexit to go forward.

Nevertheless, Wednesday’s session will likely be largely symbolic. The end result of the vote shouldn’t be in any doubt after the Withdrawal Agreement was signed off by key parliamentary committees final week.

The proceedings will likely be a possibility for these on both aspect of the Brexit battles of current years, together with the UK’s 73 MEPs, to have fun or lament the top of the UK’s membership of the EU after 47 years.

The talk on October’s settlement, which incorporates amongst different issues ensures over the rights of EU nationals dwelling within the UK and British expats on the continent, will likely be opened by the Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Man Verhofstadt.

Mr Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister, has been one in every of Brexit’s strongest critics however final week he paid tribute to the UK’s MEPs, saying their “information, vitality and wit” can be missed.

Different distinguished figures anticipated to talk embody the UK’s Brexit Get together chief Nigel Farage, who has been campaigning for the UK’s exit ever since he was first elected in 1999.

After the vote, scheduled to to happen at about 1700 GMT, the UK MEPs leaving their jobs are anticipated to be serenaded by their colleagues in a particular ceremony.

The EU’s negotiators have saved the European Parliament on board all through the Brexit course of.

Its important committees have given their approval. So it is inevitable that the deal will likely be endorsed. As a substitute of a second of jeopardy, that is prone to be the very best profile occasion within the EU’s distinctly low-key goodbye to the UK.

Anticipate speeches that reward EU unity and describe the UK’s departure as a regrettable mistake. A German MEP is planning a sing-a-long to Auld Lang Syne. The SNP group have organized for a piper to play them out of the constructing.

Within the meantime, the 73 British members are packing their belongings into their regulation-issue 15 cardboard bins.

The principle send-off will occur on Friday, when the president of the European Parliament will ship a joint assertion alongside the presidents of the European Council and the European Fee.

The British flag that flutters exterior the parliamentary premises will likely be lowered within the early hours of Saturday morning, earlier than it is displayed in a museum.

After the UK leaves, there will likely be an 11-month transition interval wherein the 2 sides hope to barter their future financial relationship.

Commerce talks are anticipated to start in earnest in early March. The UK has insisted they can’t be prolonged past 31 December 2020 when the interim association – which can see the UK comply with EU guidelines – involves an finish.

The president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, instructed CNN on Tuesday that the timetable for a deal was tight.

He mentioned the UK’s exit can be “painful” for the bloc however constructing a brand new partnership primarily based upon pleasant co-operation and mutual pursuits was now important.