09/12/2021 (Agence Europe) – French MEP Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe) was elected on Thursday 9 December as Chair of the new European Parliament permanent delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. The Frenchwoman was elected by acclamation, says a Parliament press release. The 35 MEPs in the delegation also elected Irish MEP Sean Kelly (EPP) as first Vice-Chair and Bulgarian MEP Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D) as second Vice-Chair. “Relations are difficult at the moment, but this delegation and the Assembly represent the hope of closer future ties and a better common understanding of the implications of the EU-UK agreements reached so far, as well as what remains to be done”, commented the Frenchwoman after her election. Parliament had approved this permanent delegation on 5 October (see EUROPE 12805/25). (SP)