Green light from the European Parliament to the UK divorce agreement from the EU. There were 621 yes votes, no 49 votes and 13 abstentions. Immediately after the vote, the MEPs held hands and sang a traditional Scottish song 'Auld Lang Syne', known as the candle waltz.
"Dear British friends, goodbye is too definitive a word, which is why together with all my colleagues I only say goodbye. And I want to greet you with the words that said Jo Cox, the British MEP killed during an election campaign: We have a lot of more in common than it divides us, "said President of the European Parliament David Sassoli who then signed the letter that transmits the approval of the European Parliament to the Council on the conclusion of the agreement to divorce the United Kingdom from the EU.
"I am really touched by this debate which was at times exciting and had serious tones," said EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaking at the European Parliament mini-plenary "We are saddened by the result of the referendum but we respect it "he added recalling the commission's task that" was to organize this withdrawal and an orderly withdrawal ". Barnier then promised that in the future we will proceed with "the same spirit without aggression but defending the interests of the Union and following principles recalled by President von der Leyen". The EU negotiation then said that "one can be patriots of one's own country but also Europeans and Europeans" and to the United Kingdom he made his best wishes.