The EU Parliament  debated the state of play on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on 30 January, one day after the vote in the UK‘s House of Commons.

The debate with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier featured one speaker per political group. 

Copy of the speeches by Mr Juncker and Mr Barnier is avauilable here.

Speeches by President Juncker and Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier at the Plenary session of the European Parliament on the occasion of the debate on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU.

• Travelling in the United Kingdom and on the European Union

The Parliamentary Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs approved new rules to grant UK citizens visa-free travel to the EU, which will make it easier for citizens to continue travelling to and from the United Kingdom.

Thanks to these new rules, UK citizens would not need a visa when travelling to the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Subject to a deal being reached before the 29th of March, these rules will start to be applied at the end of the transition period. If, however, the UK leaves the EU without a deal, these rules will come into action as of from the 30th of March. These rules will apply also to EU citizens from the 27 Member States who travel to the UK for short stays for tourism and business purposes.