MEPs Insist They Won’t Back an EU-UK Future Relationship Deal at Any Cost
The European Union Parliament has approved a report by a majority vote on Thursday, acknowledges the negotiating parties’ call to intensify talks in July and insists they will not back a possible agreement on the future relationship of the EU with the United Kingdom, in which the latter selects certain policy areas for cooperation and ignores others.
The approval follows a joint debate held on Wednesday, during which the MEPs once again showed they are determined to back the EU against UK’s cherry-picking policy.
“Parliament will not back a deal at any cost, warned several MEPs commenting on the ongoing negotiations about the future relationship between the EU and the UK. They rejected the UK’s intention to select certain policy areas on which to negotiate while ignoring others,” a press release of the Parliament on the joint debate reads.
During the same debate, several speakers noted that the UK and the EU should both stick to the Political Declaration, which establishes a clear framework for the future relationship of both sides, signed last year by the two.
At the same time, hoping for a new dynamism to conclude talks, the MEPs urged for the EU and the UK representatives to meet commitments faithfully, in the interest of the citizens of the UK and the EU.
Thursday’s report, which was adopted by 572 votes in favour, 34 against and 91 abstentions, amongst others reiterates Parliament’s full and unwavering support for the EU’s Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier in his talks with the British negotiators, based on the political mandate given to him by EU member states and Parliament.
Through it, the MEPs also show regret that there has been achieved no real progress in the talks on the EU-UK future relationship even after four negotiating rounds, once again accusing the UK of cherry-picking.
“Having the UK side cherry-pick certain policies and push for access to the single market after Brexit is ‘unacceptable’ for the EU, says the text [of the report], expressing deep concern over the British government’s insistence on only wanting to negotiate areas that are in the interests of the UK,” the press release explains.
Whereas the Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and the UK Coordination Group (UKCG), David McAllister, commenting the current situation regarding talks between both sides said that the EU and the UK have shown their willingness to significantly advance in the negotiations during the month of July.
“With its timely resolution adopted today, the European Parliament is expressing its readiness to conclude an ambitious and fair agreement, without compromising our principles and our objectives”, he said.
The report approved by the MEPs on June 18, also emphasizes that that Parliament’s consent to any future trade agreement with the UK is conditional on the British government agreeing to a level playing field (common rules and standards) in the area of, among others, environmental protection, labour standards, and state aid, and on the conclusion of a satisfactory agreement on fisheries.
