EU parliament backs negotiator in Brexit trade talks

European Union lawmakers threw ir weight Wednesday behind negotiating pack 27-nation bloc's chief negotiator wants to use during upcoming tre talks with former EU member Britain. European Parliament opted a text embracing key positions of negotiator Michel Barnier with a 543-39 vote that included 69 abstentions.

remaining EU member nations are still going over Barnier's proposals for a post-Brexit tre relationship with U.K. but are expected to back m when European affairs ministers meet in in Brussels on Feb. 25.

Right up to Britain's Jan. 31 exit from EU, remaining member nations closely aligned ir views during drawn out withdrawal negotiations. challenge w is to keep m united during post-Brexit tre negotiations, which are to last through rest of year.