European Parliament Approves EU-UK Trade Deal

The European Parliament's approval of the agreement was immediately greeted by the Presidents of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the European Council Charles Michel. The European Parliament approved the EU-UK bilateral relations agreement after Brexit. The results of the vote were announced by the EP coordinator and liberal leader Guy Verhofstadt on Wednesday, April 28. "The European Parliament approves the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement! The first trade deal to put up barriers and remove freedoms? A failure for both sides, but better than nothing," he wrote on Twitter. According to the head of the European Parliament David Sassoli, 660 deputies voted for the agreement, five opposed, 32 abstained. The European Parliament's approval of the agreement was immediately greeted by the Presidents of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the European Council Charles Michel. "I warmly welcome the European Parliament vote in favor of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It marks the foundation for a strong and close partnership with the UK. Faithful implementation is essential," von der Leyen wrote on Twitter. In turn, Michel said that the results of the vote in the European Parliament "mark a major step forward in the EU-UK relations and open a new era." "The EU will continue to work constructively with the UK as an important friend and partner," the head of the European Council assured. Recall that on January 1, Great Britain finally left the European Union, completing its exit from the single market and the EU customs union. The 11-month transition period between London and Brussels has ended, when following Brexit the kingdom was subject to the same rules, regulations and benefits as any other EU member.