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May had announced at a press conference Wednesday after the five-hour cabinet meeting with the agreement. It was a joint decision to approve the agreement. It was difficult to pbad the bill, especially with respect to the controversial issue of Ireland, Ms. May said. "But I think it's a decision that is deeply in the national interest." : "We still have difficult days."
According to media reports, the British government should be divided despite official approval. Although there was a majority vote, there should always be resentment against the agreement. Up to eleven ministers reportedly said "Guardian" aloud against the agreement. However, none of them wanted to comment on Wednesday.
Parliament's vote as a stumbling block
In Parliament too, May's "Brexit" strategy has many opponents. Opponents of "Brexit", such as former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, are too lax in their approach to the EU, while the pro-European faction hopes to stop Brexit after all. . According to EU diplomats, the unscheduled vote is the main obstacle to the "Brexit" plan of May. He needs about 320 votes out of 650 in the lower house.
The DUP of the Protestant party in Northern Ireland warned in advance. If May decides to treat Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the kingdom, it will have consequences, said DUP leader Arlene Foster. The minority government of Mays relies on DUP support. A rejection of the DUP could force May to serve the opposition to get her vote – with uncertain prospects. The agreement was approved by Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. The main British opposition parties also insisted Tuesday on the right to amend the treaties.
The opposition asks for more information
A longer press conference scheduled for Wednesday night would have been postponed to Thursday due to opposition. In a joint letter, the opposition called for Mays' appearance in the lower house. The five signatory parties, including Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and SNP chief Ian Blackford, asked for more information on the deal, directly and before the press conference.
This should now be done on Thursday. Corbyn told the BBC that he did not think the current draft was a good deal for the whole of the UK, as May said earlier. The Labor Party wants to announce in the May statement to parliament whether the party accepts the project or not. The BBC had previously reported that May could face a vote of no confidence Thursday.
"Very bad deal"
One of the biggest opponents of May, the influential spokesman Jacob Rees-Mogg, spoke to the BBC about a "very bad deal". He announced that he would vote against the bill in parliament. Foster said: "As trade unionists, we can not support an agreement that breaks the UK." This has implications for the vote.
The former "Brexit" minister, Steve Baker, tweeted about many negative voices and said that he thought the deal would only last a few days. Baker is well connected, according to the BBC, and Rees-Mogg and he could be very dangerous for May. Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Boris Johnson and retired Brexit Minister David Davis called on ministers and parliamentarians not to vote in favor of the bill.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the deal "devastating" for their region. "It would be the worst possible world for Scotland," she told the BBC. in view of the special status foreseen for Northern Ireland. Due to the agreement, Scotland should leave the single European market ", which in itself is already quite serious," said Mr Sturgeon. "But at the same time, we should be competing for investment and jobs with Northern Ireland, which would actually remain in the single market."
"Brexit" special fix at the top
Despite these obstacles and opposition, the chances of a "Brexit" ordered with Cabinet approval have increased considerably. Thus, from the point of view of the European Commission, sufficient progress has been made so that a special summit on "Brexit" can be convened, according to diplomats, probably on 25 November. EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, wants to talk Thursday morning with EU Council President Donald Tusk. After that, Tusk makes a statement.
On Wednesday, shortly after May, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier visited Brussels in front of the press. "I think we have made significant progress," said Barnier. 17 months have been negotiated. The current text contains 185 articles, three protocols and countless attachments. Barnier announced that the transition phase could be extended until the full effectiveness of "Brexit" "for a limited period". The UK will no longer be represented in the EU institutions at this stage, but a member will continue to fulfill all its obligations.
Published project
On Wednesday evening, the full text of 585 pages of the temporary withdrawal agreement was published on the European Commission's website, as well as the draft framework for the future relationship between the EU and the Kingdom. -United.
The agreement also provides all concerned parties with the necessary legal certainty as to the consequences of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. As an example, he mentioned the rights of European citizens in Britain and those of British citizens living in EU countries and the agreement on UK payments to the United Kingdom. # 39; EU.
No "hard limit"
In addition, according to Barnier, it was possible to avoid a "hard line" with reintroduced controls between the British province of Northern Ireland and Ireland. The goal is to finalize the issue during the expected transition period until the end of 2020 after the "Brexit," Barnier said.
If there is not enough time, the transitional period may be extended "for a limited period" or a quick fix allowing the whole of the United Kingdom to remain in a customs union with the United Kingdom. l & # 39; EU. The question of Northern Ireland prevented for months the conclusion of the negotiations of "Brexit" with Great Britain.
Juncker: EU ready for the next stage
The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, tweeted that he had recommended in a letter to Tusk to continue negotiations after the decisive progress made with Britain. The EU is ready for next steps, negotiations are almost under way. Tusk must make a statement Thursday after a meeting with Barnier.
In the afternoon, the ambbadadors of the remaining 27 EU member states discussed with the British government the text of the "Brexit" agreement under the Austrian presidency. The key points of the document were presented to the ambbadadors by Sabine Weyand, deputy negotiator for the European "Brexit". According to a diplomat, "everything is still very fragile", we also expect the decision of London.
Shortly on the cabinet agreement "very happy"
Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) said in the evening about the UK government's agreement "very happy". He also hopes to get approval from the British Parliament, he wrote on Twitter. The result is "good because it guarantees that the" Brexit "will be avoided and" there will be no hard line between Ireland and Northern Ireland ".
It also provided a basis for negotiating "a future new relationship" between the EU and the UK. The draft treaty will be "reviewed" as soon as possible at a meeting of EU ministers from the last EU member states and an extraordinary summit on Brexit. European Foreign Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) said in a statement that he would now give "a timely" EU Council. He is in close coordination with Barnier to prepare the next steps in a professional manner.
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