Published 20:47 IST, October 22nd 2019
EU did 'all in our power' to ensure orderly Brexit, says Juncker
Jean Claude Juncker addressed the EU Parliament on October 22 said that the EU had done “all in our power" for an orderly divorce of Britain from the EU.
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The European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker addressed the European Parliament before stepping down from his post after the end of his tenure on October 22 and said that the EU did “all in our power” to ensure an orderly divorce of Britain from the 28-nation bloc. Currently, the bloc is awaiting the British Parliament's decision on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Withdrawl Bill and the approval of the new deal. Juncker also expressed regret for utilizing most of his last five-years in the mandate to Brexit however, he further said that at least they had done everything in their power for an orderly departure and now EU is required to watch the events in Westminster “very closely”.
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Will not ratify before the UK
According to Juncker, it is essential to wait for the British Parliament's decision as the EU will not ratify the deal before Westminster will have ratified the agreement. Boris Johnson published a Withdrawl Agreement Bill ahead of British Parliament's session on October 22. According to the website of the British government, this 110-page bill is published along with 122-page Explanatory Notes which are agreed between the UK and the EU to be implemented in domestic law. Moreover, the Bill ensures that the UK is able to fulfill its global obligations and leave the European Union with a deal on October 31. The bill is currently in its a second reading and the session is also expected to go on for a few more hours.
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Brexit delayed
In a major setback to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UK lawmakers in British Parliament have voted 322-306 to delay Brexit. The motion was led by MP Oliver Letwin and PM Johnson who faced a harsh majority when the Parliament voted to postpone the decision on Britain's divorce from the 28-nation bloc. It has again clouded the referendum which was proposed by the UK PM which made the government ask for another extension.
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(With AP inputs)
19:38 IST, October 22nd 2019