Britain begins last full day in EU after Brexit deal passed
Britain has begun its last full day in the European Union after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was given its final seal of approval.
British MEPs are packing up their offices in Brussels and millions of new coins will go into circulation promising “friendship with all nations” as the country prepares to exit the bloc at 11pm on Friday.
It comes as Mr Johnson prepares to deliver a speech next week saying he is willing to accept border checks after Brexit, with sovereignty prioritised over frictionless trade.
The Prime Minister’s speech will come in apparent defiance of EU warnings that Britain must accept the bloc’s standards on goods for the best trade agreement, The Daily Telegraph reports while citing Whitehall sources.
There were emotional scenes in the European Parliament on Wednesday as MEPs voted by 621 to 49 in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement and linked hands to sing a final chorus of Auld Lang Syne.
In contrast, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage had his microphone cut off during a fiery departure speech in which his party’s MEPs cheered and waved union flags as he said the UK was “never coming back”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Farage said the UK's departure from the EU on Friday "the achievement of my lifetime political goal".
For most MEPs, who have long wanted Britain to stay, it was a moment of deep regret.
Addressing the parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was determined the EU and the UK should remain “good friends and good partners”.
“We will always love you and we will never be far.
"Long live Europe,” she said.
The Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the departure of a country which had “twice given its blood to liberate Europe” was a “sad” moment.
He predicted, however, that the UK would eventually rejoin, with many British people deeply unhappy at the prospect of leaving.
“So this vote is not an adieu, this vote, in my opinion, is only an au revoir.”
Mr Verhofstadt poured scorn on claims by supporters of Brexit that it would mean Britain recovering its sovereignty.
“What is in fact threatening Britain’s sovereignty most – the rules of our single market or the fact that tomorrow they may be planting Chinese 5G masts in the British islands?” he said.
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The vote in Brussels follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster.
The agreement settles the terms of Britain’s departure, including future citizens’ rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UK’s divorce settlement.
It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement.
Mr Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive deal – covering all aspects of Britain’s future relationship with the EU, including security – by the end of the year.
He has been adamant he will not contemplate any extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020.
But senior EU figures have repeatedly warned reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable.
However, Sir Robbie Gibb,Theresa May’s former communications director, wrote in The Daily Telegraph he was confident that there would be no extension to the transition period and a “basic free trade arrangement with additional provisions for the aviation and haulage industries” would be settled.
“Fears that a deal will need to be ratified by every EU government are unfounded as the Government believes it is asking for nothing more than already sits within scope of the European Commission,” he added.