Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 22 October 2019 - Strasbourg

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019 (debate)

  Luisa Porritt (Renew). – Madam President, I want to thank our European friends for their continued patience on Brexit, but let’s not be fooled: this deal is a ticking time bomb. If it passes both the UK and European Parliaments, in little over a year from now, we may be looking at a situation akin to no deal. There is a risk of divergence on everything from workers’ rights to environmental standards, to taxation, due to the decision to scrap the level playing field from the Withdrawal Agreement and place that in the political declaration. The EU would walk away from free-trade negotiations if there is too much divergence, and it is unrealistic to think that such negotiations could conclude in only a year. This is a task set up to fail by a British Prime Minister who won’t need to clear up the mess because he’ll probably be removed from power in a general election soon. His self-imposed deadline should not dictate the futures and freedoms of young people, our fellow Europeans in the UK, and Brits living elsewhere in the EU.

President Tusk has acknowledged receipt of the letter requesting an extension. We need that extension to be granted. We must have a people’s vote.