European Parliament approves resolution on Brexit

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

An overwhelming majority of the European Parliament (516 votes in favor, 133 against, with 50 abstentions) adopted a resolution officially laying down the European Parliament’s key principles and conditions for its approval of the UK's withdrawal agreement (Brexit).

Voting took place in the framework of the plenary session of the EP in Strasbourg.

The document contains some key principles that actually determine the tone of the upcoming Brexit talks, which should begin in the coming weeks between London and Brussels. It also asserts that the UK must respect its membership obligations until it leaves the EU.

"Negotiations should be transparent," the resolution reads, "Great Britain is obliged to comply with previously accepted commitments, including financial ones within the framework of European budget."

"Discussion of future relations between the EU and Great Britain will be possible only after the achievement of substantial progress in the talks on the withdrawal of the UK (from the EU)," the document says.

MEPs consider that London cannot claim free access to the all-European market without complying with the "principle of free movement of goods, capital, services and people."

From the very beginning, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker insisted that the remaining 27 states "must show unity of position" in the face of the challenges that the union is facing with the upcoming "divorce" with Britain. In this regard, the adopted resolution emphasizes that European countries cannot conduct "unilateral talks" with the British authorities on the issue of Brexit.

Finally, the EU members decided that regardless of the course of the discussions between London and Brussels, "the process of peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland must continue."

On June 23, 2016 about 52 percent of UK voters cast ballots to for the island nation to leave the EU. The full terms of the UK's exit have yet to be negotiated, but much hinges at stake.

Particularly, UK citizens and outside observers wonder whether Britain will keep some economic ties with the EU in the form of tariff-free trade, or whether the UK will trade with the EU like any non-EU country under rules stipulated by the World Trade Organization. Another issue is how migrants entering and leaving the UK will be treated.