Here are some quotes from the European parliament debate.
From Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator
What is in fact threatening Britain’s sovereignty most – the rules of our single market or the fact that tomorrow they may be planting Chinese 5G masts in the British islands? …
It is sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, has twice given its blood to liberate Europe …
In the last couple of days I have received hundreds of mails from British citizens saying they desperately want to stay or return … So this vote is not an adieu, this vote, in my opinion, is only an au revoir.
From Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission
No new partnership will bring back the benefits of being part of the same union but we have the duty to seek the best for the British and for the European people in a post-Brexit world.
To our British friends and many – perhaps not all – but many of our British MEPs here in the room, I want to use the words of the famous British poet George Eliot.
She said, ‘Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love’.
We will always love you and we will never be far, long live Europe.
From Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader
I’m hoping this begins the end of this project. It’s a bad project, it isn’t just undemocratic it’s anti-democratic …
There is a historic battle going on now across the West – in Europe, America and elsewhere. It is globalism against populism. And you may loathe populism, but I’ll tell you a funny thing – it’s becoming very popular.
And it has great benefits. No more financial contributions, no more European Court of Justice, no more common fisheries policy, no more being talked down to, no more being bullied, no more Guy Verhofstadt.
From Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator
We are going to continue in the year that comes, this current year with the same spirit, the same objectivity, without any aggression by firmly, however, defending the interests of the union and its member states.
Going beyond Brexit the UK will remain there.
It will remain a close partner when it comes to the economy. It will be an ally as it always has been and it will be a friend.
The much-promises rendition of Auld Lang Syne from pro-EU MEPs immediately after the vote. pic.twitter.com/ifcxMACztm
— Nick Gutteridge (@nick_gutteridge) January 29, 2020
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Credit: The Guardian
