On Wednesday 5 April, the European Parliament adopted, by a very large majority, its red lines ahead of the negotiations with the British government on the UK's departure from the European Union.
Voting by 516 votes to 133, with 50 abstentions, MEPs formulated the "first political reaction" to British Prime Minister Theresa May's notification of Article 50 of the Treaty on 29 March, as the European Commission's negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, summed up at a plenary debate on Wednesday morning (see EUROPE 11757).
The next position to be taken will be that of the European Council with 27 member states, which will adopt its guidelines on Saturday 29 April (see EUROPE 11759).
The European Parliament, which will have to give its formal consent at the end of the negotiation process leading to the UK's departure, sets out a series of principles. These were broadly explained on the eve of the vote by the leaders of the five political groups at the origin of this resolution (EPP, S&D, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA) (see EUROPE 11761).
The MEPs stated that it is essential to ensure fair and equitable treatment for EU citizens living in the UK, and for British citizens residing in the EU. They also state that the UK remains a member of the EU until its official departure, which involves financial commitments that could run beyond the date of withdrawal (currently set for March 2019).
The Parliament's resolution warns against any attempt at compromise between security and the future of the economic relationship between the EU and the UK. The resolution also opposes any form of "à la carte choice" and a fragmented economic relationship characterised by sectoral agreements.
In favour of transitional arrangements for three years maximum
In addition, the resolution states that the negotiations on transitional arrangements can only begin once "tangible progress" has been made in the negotiations on the agreement for withdrawal. These arrangements can last no longer than three years, whilst an agreement on the future partnership can only be concluded once the UK is outside the EU.
During the debate ahead of the resolution's adoption, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker praised the attitude of the EU27 who are now acting "in unison". "The stronger we are as 27, the stronger the negotiation will be", he said. He also promised that the EU would show renewed energy to consolidate its project of integration again.
Barnier stated that the common goal was to seal an amicable agreement and that a scenario of "no deal" was not in either party's interest. Refusing to punish the UK, he simply said that the country should respect its commitments, enabling its accounts to be settled with the EU, "no more and no less".
In the view of British national Nigel Farage, the leader of the EFDD and hard-line Brexit supporter, this "bill", which is estimated at €60 billion, is a sign that Europeans are "vindictive". He also compared the EU to a "mafia" which would hold its members to ransom.
However, in the opinion of Belgian national Guy Verhsoftadt, the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator, it is normal that the resolution that has been adopted should be firm because the Parliament cannot accept that a third country should benefit from a status that is more favourable than when it was a member of the EU. Earlier, he had said in the Parliament's plenary session that the marriage between London and the EU had never been marked by passion. However, he predicted that in the future, a new generation British leader would bring the UK back into the EU. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)