Lawmakers approved legislation on Thursday which will allow Britain to leave the European Union on Jan 31 with an exit deal, ending more than three years of tumult over the terms of the unprecedented divorce.They voted 330 to 231 in favour of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which implements an exit deal agreed with the EU last year.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London on Wednesday ahead of the opening rounds of trade talks that will begin once Britain formally leaves the bloc on Jan 31.
Britain will suffer more than the European Union if it quits the bloc with no deal next year, a Brussels chief warned on Wednesday. Ursula von der Leyen, who has taken over from Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president, also stressed the timetable to reach an agreement was “extremely challenging” after London decided to put into law that the UK must leave by the end of December 2020.
The incoming European Commission chief has changed the title of her migration commissioner from Protecting our European Way of Life following criticism it had far-right connotations, an EU official said on Wednesday.
The future head of the European Commission said she would be minded to grant Britain an extension to talks on its exit from the EU if London gave good grounds, adding that an orderly departure was important to launch future ties on a good footing.
Ursula von der Leyen's name is unlikely to have cropped up in early conversations as European leaders wrangled over the best candidate to replace Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. But after proposed compromise deals collapsed, Germany's defiance minister and close ally of Angela Merkel has emerged from the shadows as their nominee for the top job.
European Union leaders have agreed on Tuesday on who should fill the top jobs for its main institutions for the next five years after a marathon summit marred by disagreement.