Guardian: A new chapter in relations between London and Brussels after the approval of "Brexit"

The British newspaper, The Guardian, said that the European Parliament’s granting of its support for the trade and security agreement for Brexit prompted prominent figures on both sides to talk about hope about a “new chapter” of friendly relations after 4 years of division.

5 members of the European Parliament voted against the deal, while 660 members supported it and 32 abstained, although in an accompanying decision, the Council described the result of the referendum held by London on its membership in the European Union on 23 June 2016 as a "historical mistake."

For his part, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement that sought to define the vote as the end of the Brexit process that cost two of his Downing Street predecessors - the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - their jobs.

He said, "This week is the last step in a long journey, providing stability to our new relationship with the European Union as vital trading partners, close allies and sovereign parties. Now is the time to look to the future and build a more global Britain."

Lord Frost, who has led the UK negotiating team over the past year, thanked his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, but also made an optimistic point that the UK will defend its interests in future talks.

He said: “Today marks an important moment when the European Parliament voted to support the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union.

In the past year, the two sides worked tirelessly to agree on an agreement based on friendly cooperation and free trade.

“Today’s vote brings certainty and allows us to focus on the future. There will be a lot of work through the new Partnership Council, and we are committed to working to find solutions that work for both of us. We will always strive to act in this positive spirit, but we will always defend our interests when we must - as a country,” he added. Sovereign fully controls our destiny. "

The newspaper said that before the vote, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was keen to reassure members of the European Parliament that the 1,449-page trade deal came equipped with "real teeth" to ensure both sides fulfill their obligations.