European Interest

President Tajani: Irish issue must be solved to secure EP Brexit deal approval

Flickr/EU2018BG Bulgarian Presidency/CC BY 2.0
"The first point is to defend the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, the second one is related to the UK honouring existing financial commitments," stated EP President Antonio Tajani.

“The first point is to defend the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, the second one is related to the UK honouring existing financial commitments. On the first two issues, there is an agreement, more or less. The third point that we want to defend is the Good Friday Agreement. For this, we want a backstop that is workable and legally operational for Northern Ireland. To this end, the best solution would be for a border in the Irish Sea. We are also open to a three-year transition, if this can help to find a solution,” the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani stated at the EU leaders’ meeting with UK Prime Minister, Theresa May.

“I think that Mrs May wants a deal. Our proposal is clear. We support Michel Barnier and are united, both Members States and European institutions. The European Parliament will not vote in favour of an agreement unless all three issues are solved,” he concluded.

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