EU Parliament Approves Post-Brexit Trade Deal with Overwhelming Majority

The European Parliament's approval of the post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and the UK removes legal uncertainty and ensures tariff-free trade without quotas for UK and EU-made goods. The deal, hammered out by the UK government and the EU last year, was ratified by the EU parliament with 660 votes in favor, five against, and 32 abstentions. The vote marks a turning point towards a positive relationship between the two sides, after a tumultuous period marked by spats over Northern Ireland, vaccines, and diplomatic privileges.

Key Takeaways:

• The European Parliament approved the post-Brexit trade deal with 660 votes in favor, five against, and 32 abstentions, providing stability to the UK's new relationship with the EU.
• The deal ensures tariff-free trade without quotas for UK and EU-made goods, with the 1,449-page agreement taking effect on January 1.
• The vote marks a turning point towards a positive relationship between the EU and the UK, with both sides agreeing to work jointly on solutions for post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland.
• Leading EU policymakers, including Brexit commissioner Maros Sefcovic, have urged the parliament to proceed with a vote, citing new possibilities for the EU to sanction any future breaches of good faith by London.
• The UK government welcomed the vote, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying it was "the final step in a long journey" and marking a new chapter in relations between the two sides.

Statistics:

• 660 votes in favor of the trade deal in the European Parliament
• 5 votes against the trade deal in the European Parliament
• 32 abstentions in the European Parliament
• 1,449 pages in the trade and cooperation agreement
• January 1 marked the effective date of the trade agreement
• 2019 saw the aggrement of the EU-UK divorce treaty