Summary

  • MEPs debated UK Parliament’s rejection of Theresa May’s Brexit deal

  • Michel Barnier told them risk of no-deal Brexit was greater than ever

  • Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez made speech on future of EU

  • He called for 'true European Army' and national vetoes on EU tax policy to be scrapped

  1. MEPs to hear from Spanish PMpublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    That’s the short debate on Brexit finished.

    In a few moments MEPs will be joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who will make a speech on the future of the EU.

    He will be the fifteenth leader to do so as part of a series in the run-up to May’s European elections.

    Mr Sanchez, a Socialist, has led a minority government since last summer, after he won the support of six other parties to remove conservative leader Mariano Rajoy.

  2. Timmermans: No desire to punish UKpublished at 09:21 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Frans TimmermansImage source, EBS

    Responding to the debate, European Commission deputy chief Frans Timmermans says it "pains" him to see the United Kingdom as politically divided as it is today.

    He says he has not encountered evidence of a "punitive attitude" towards the UK among EU leaders.

    He reiterates that Brexit "will do harm" to both the UK and the European Union, but that politicians must act to minimise that harm.

    He says the backstop plan is "non-negotiable", adding that it is "mind-boggling" that "so many" British politicians are willing to threaten the Good Friday Agreement.

    Quoting the Rolling Stones, he concludes: "You can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you might get what you need."

  3. MPs 'don't know what they want'published at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Esther de LangeImage source, EBS

    Dutch Christian democrat Esther de Lange says MPs in the House of Commons are good at making speeches, but "don't know what they want".

    She says allowing the UK to remain in the EU's customs union would be the "best solution" to protect jobs - and calls for MPs to push for this outcome.

  4. Brexit: What happens next?published at 09:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    After a Commons defeat and vote of no confidence, where does Theresa May go with her Brexit plan?

    Read More
  5. What will the EU do now?published at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

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  6. More MEPs react to vote resultpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    UKIP leader Gerard Batten, who yesterday joined the anti-EU ENF group, says the point of the Brexit negotiations has been to "wear the people down" and overturn the 2016 referendum.

    "There never is going to be a deal," he says.

    The DUP's Diane Dodds says MPs who rejected the deal last night defended the unity of the UK and its right to an "independent future" outside the EU.

    Her party does not want a hard Irish border, she adds, but the "intransigence" of the Irish government and EU leaders has left a no-deal Brexit "on the table".

    The SNP's Alyn Smith says his job "is not to mitigate Brexit, it's to stop it".

    He calls for the UK to take unilateral steps to guarantee the rights of EU citizens.

  7. Farage: May has acted like defeated war leaderpublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Nigel FarageImage source, EBS

    Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage says Theresa May has shown a "total failure of leadership", and has acted like the leader of a "nation defeated in war".

    "If she had any sense of honour, she'd be gone by lunchtime today," he adds.

    He says it is clear there are "no concessions" to come from the EU, adding that Michel Barnier has "got us exactly where you want us".

    He says Eurosceptics would stand in May's European elections if the UK's EU membership is extended beyond the end of March.

    But he says MEPs may be in for a "big surprise" if there is another referendum, describing the British people as a "lion that will roar".

  8. What are the European papers saying?published at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

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  9. MEP backs second vote if no majority found in Westminsterpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Philippe LambertsImage source, EBS

    Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts, the co-leader of the Green/EFA group, says the various factions of MPs who rejected the deal yesterday were an "improbable coalition".

    He says another referendum should take place if a majority for an alternative outcome cannot be found in the UK Parliament.

    Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson says the Irish border backstop plan "cannot be watered down".

  10. MEP calls for cross-party co-operation in UKpublished at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Guy VerhofstadtImage source, EBS

    Guy Verhofstadt, who is also the Parliament's chief Brexit spokesman, says the rejection of Theresa May's deal last night was expected.

    He says it seems to be easier in the UK to find majorities against things rather that for them, but that the EU needs a "majority in favour of something".

    He calls for British MPs to work together, to "transcend" the "binary" political system in the UK.

    He says the EU stands ready to "fully engage" if the UK now asks for a "deeper relationship".

    He adds that he hopes to work with the Home Affairs select committee in Westminster to provide security on the issue of citizens' rights.

  11. What’s MEPs’ role in Brexit?published at 08:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    MEPs voting in StrasbourgImage source, AFP

    The European Parliament has not been directly taking part in Brexit negotiations but must ratify any final deal before it comes into force.

    Senior MEPs reacted positively to the agreement reached on a deal in November – and insisted it is the only deal available.

    After the Commons vote was pulled last month, the leaders of the political groups issued a statement reiterating that the deal cannot be renegotiated.

    The 751-strong assembly has been co-ordinating its Brexit position through a small committee of senior MEPs known as the Brexit steering group.

  12. Kamall: Tory MPs fear consequences of backstoppublished at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    KamallImage source, EBS

    British Conservative Syed Kamall, a co-leader of the ECR group, also pays tribute to Michel Barnier, saying there was "not much to complain about" in his speech.

    He says MEPs will have to "wait a little longer" before they can get a response from the UK government due to its need to survive the no confidence vote today.

    He says that the EU will now have the option of preparing for no-deal, or providing more assurances to MPs worried about the Irish border backstop plan.

    Many Conservative MPs fear this would trap the UK in a permanent customs union, he explains.

  13. Weber: I don't see room to change dealpublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Manfred WeberImage source, EBS

    German Christian democrat MEP Manfred Weber, who leads the centre-right EPP group, says he does not see "room for manoeuvre" to change the deal.

    He says the progress of Brexit has shown it is better to stay in the EU and try to reform it, rather than to leave.

    Italian social democrat Roberto Gualtieri, who sits in the same S&D group as Labour's MEPs, says the credibility of the backstop must not be threatened.

    He says the options of the UK remaining in a permanent customs union and the single market have always been "on the table" - and MEPs are "ready to engage on this".

    He says he would not object to Article 50 being extended, but adds this must be for a "clear reason".

  14. 'Massive applause for Barnier'published at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

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  15. 'Strong overture to MPs'published at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

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  16. Barnier: EU can give 'favourable response' if UK changes red linespublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Michel BarnierImage source, EBS

    European Commission Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says it is still "too early to assess the consequences of this vote".

    He adds that those voting against the deal seemed to have "contradictory" aims - adding that he will not "speculate" on the possible outcomes now.

    However he adds that the "political conditions" to endorse an agreement are "not yet there in London" - although he calls the exiting deal the "best possible compromise".

    He says the EU's priority will remain to protect citizens' rights, and calls on the UK government to explain its next steps.

    He says the EU is ready to give a "favourable response" if the UK amends its red lines to "go beyond" a relationship based on a "simple trade deal".

    He says however that the EU "cannot exclude" any scenario, including a no-deal Brexit, which he says the EU side now fears more than ever.

  17. Timmermans: Deal 'limits damage' of Brexitpublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Frans TimmermansImage source, EBS

    European Commission deputy chief Frans Timmermans says the result of last night's vote was "crystal clear".

    He says the EU has sought to "limit the harm" from Brexit - and the deal agreed with the UK delivers on that ambition.

    He says the European Commission will take steps to ensure the EU is "well prepared" for "any possible outcome".

  18. Romanian minister: 'Disorderly Brexit' more likelypublished at 07:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Melania-Gabriela CiotImage source, EBS

    Romanian European Affairs Minister Melania-Gabriela Ciot represents Romania's EU presidency, which began this month.

    She tells MEPs the result last night makes a "disorderly Brexit" more likely.

    She says amid the conflicting views in Westminster, it is hard to deduce a "single explanation" of last night's result.

    The EU has said the deal will not be renegotiated, but the EU stands "ready to act" once the UK government has clarified its intentions.

    She adds that the EU must continue to make preparations for no deal, but that the ratification process for the deal on the EU side should continue.

  19. EP President: Rebel MPs 'not on same wavelength'published at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    Debate on Brexit

    European Parliament
    Strasbourg

    Antonio TajaniImage source, EBS

    First to speak in the morning's debate on last night's vote in Westminster is European Parliament President Antonio Tajani.

    He says it is important to "interpret this vote in the right way".

    He says there were two "negative majorities" expressed last night - one against the PM's deal, the other against the idea the UK should leave without a deal.

    He notes that those voting against the deal were "not on the same wavelength".

    He says the EU must prepare for the possibility of the UK leaving without a deal, including for citizens who are "suffering from uncertainty".

  20. EU 'wants to know what UK wants'published at 07:27 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2019

    European leaders say Britain needs to clarify what sort of Brexit it can agree to, after MPs overwhelmingly reject PM Theresa May's withdrawal deal.

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