Speaking alongside his Commission and Parliament counterparts, Ursula von der Leyen and David Sassoli in Brussels, Michel said, “This is an exceptional day for the EU and I have mixed feelings. It is never a happy moment when someone leaves but we have to open a new chapter and use all our energy to build a stronger and more ambitious EU.” #eudebates #Brexit #EuropeanParliament #UnitedKingdom #VoteBrexit #BREXITDeal #NoDeal
The UK will leave the EU at midnight.
There is a very clear legal basis to guarantee citizen’s rights for Britons in the EU and EU citizens in the UK. This guarantee is in the WD and was put there by both sides. We found a very good solution on citizen’s right as well as the Ireland issue.
She added, “I want to stress that we are a union of 27 and every member has the same influence and same voice. No one was ever forced to join the EU. They all came voluntarily and that is because the EU represents like no other region the rule of law and personal dignity.”
“It is not just a common market; it is more than that and there are values that unify us and that is why many countries still knock at the door and want to join.”
“The EU has been criticised and some say it has to be faster and more visible. Yes, maybe, but if you look at what it has achieved and the unity it brought to a continent torn apart before that we can be proud of the EU. We have to ensure all do all we can to protect it and make it thrive and grow.”
“It is the British who decided to go and that must be respected but, in the talks, we saw a precious experience: how much that unity counts and how strong we are in unity. This weighs far more as an EU27 than you can ever have alone.”
“We are losing a pragmatic, down-to-earth member. It was not always easy, but dealing with all 27 was not always easy. We have shared lot of history and experience.”
“But, I stress, it was the choice of the British to be on their own. It is now up to us to negotiate the best possible agreement.”
For his part, Parliament President David Sassoli said, “We need to look to the future and build a new partnership between enduring friends. Together, our three institutions will do everything in their power to make it a success. We are ready to be ambitious.”
“How close that partnership will be depends on decisions that are still to be taken. Because every choice has a consequence. Without the free movement of people, there can be no free movement of capital, goods and services. Without a level playing field on environment, labour, taxation and state aid, there cannot be the highest quality access to the single market. Without being a member, you cannot retain the benefits of membership.”
He added, “Over the next weeks, months and years we will have to loosen some of the threads carefully stitched together between the EU and the UK over five decades. And as we do so, we will have to work hard to weave together a new way forward as allies, partners and friends.”
The Italian MEP added, “We have always deeply regretted the UK’s decision to leave but we have always fully respected it, too. The agreement we reached is fair for both sides and ensures that millions of EU and UK citizens will continue to have their rights protected in the place they call home.”
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