The European Parliament has recently voted on the withdrawal agreement negotiated between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) regarding their separation from each other. The agreement was reached after several rounds of negotiations and has been a topic of much debate and controversy.
The withdrawal agreement was first proposed in 2018 and since then has gone through several revisions, with the latest version being agreed upon in October 2019. It covers several key areas such as citizens` rights, the financial settlement, and the Irish border.
On January 29th, 2020, the European Parliament voted to approve the withdrawal agreement. This was after a debate where members of parliament from various countries expressed their views on the agreement.
The vote was a significant moment in the Brexit process as it paved the way for the UK to leave the EU on January 31, 2020. The withdrawal agreement sets out the terms of the UK`s departure from the EU and provides a framework for their future relationship.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding the agreement was the Irish border. To avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the agreement includes a backstop provision that would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU until a solution is found. This has been the subject of much criticism from UK lawmakers who argue that it would tie the country to the EU indefinitely.
The agreement also includes a financial settlement of £39 billion that the UK will pay the EU to cover its financial commitments. This has been another point of contention, with some UK lawmakers arguing that the amount is too high.
The approval of the withdrawal agreement by the European Parliament was a significant milestone in the Brexit process. It has been a long and complicated journey, but the agreement provides a framework for the UK and the EU to move forward in their future relationship.
As the UK enters into a transition period, negotiations will continue on the future of their relationship. There is still much to be decided, but the approval of the withdrawal agreement marks an important step in the process.