It has taken four years, two British prime ministers, two European Commission presidents and various changes of EU governments but, at last, the final ratification of the Brexit withdrawal agreement is under way. The so-called ‘consent vote’ by the European Parliament means the treaty can be formally ratified by the European Union. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the parliament’s approval of the post-Brexit trade deal, but warned that its faithful implementation was crucial. Several MEPs expressed concerns over whether the British government would stick to the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). The commission made it clear that, under the Brexit deal, the decision should have been agreed with the EU.

Source: Irish Examiner April 29, 2021 07:24 UTC