With 621 votes in favour, 49 against and 13 abstentions, the European Parliament has given the green light to the Brexit deal. Today, Thursday, the European Council will do the same. This is the last formal step before Britain's exit from the European Union, which will officially take place from February XNUMXst.
From next month, however, nothing will change in relations between Brussels and London. It will open instead the second phase of the negotiations on future relations, which will run at least until the end of the year. The problem remains open border control, especially as regards the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Immediately after the vote, MEPs held hands and sang a traditional Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne", known in Italy as the "Candle waltz“. The chant is sung in English-speaking countries when bidding farewell to a friend.
MEPs ScotsHowever, they ensure that for them it is only a temporary exit: they will return to Brussels after gaining independence from the United Kingdom.
Instead, the British of the Brexit Party, led by the leader, rejoiced Nigel Farage, who in the hall before the vote hoped that Brexit would lead to a "debate throughout Europe", a Europe that "we adore, while we hate the European Union".
“Dear British friends, goodbye is too definitive a word, and that is why I, together with all my colleagues, only say goodbye – said the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli – And I want to greet you with the words that Jo Cox, the British MP killed during an election campaign said: we have much more in common than what divides us”.
“I am really moved by this debate, which was at certain moments emotional and grave in tone – added the EU's chief negotiator for Brexit, the French Michel Barnier – We are saddened by the result of the referendum but we respect it. In the future we will proceed with the same spirit without aggressiveness but defending the interests of the Union and following the principles recalled by President von der Leyen”.
