MEP's reactions after voting for Brexit

(29 Jan 2020) The European Parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved the departure terms of the United Kingdom from the European Union - the final major decision in the four-year Brexit saga. As EU leaders and legislators started bidding farewell to the UK, warm words of love were mixed with hard-headed warnings to the country not to seek too many advantages during upcoming trade talks on a future relationship. EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier described the withdrawal as "sad and serious," saying he had a weakness for both sides.   "I hope that together with parliament members and heads of states, we'll be able to rebuild something, and that the next negotiations will be a bit less negative," Barnier said ahead of the upcoming trade negotiations with Britain. As they left Wednesday's session, a number of British MEPs described an emotional departure. "A lot of people say they're going to miss us, which is very nice. We leave with mixed feelings," said UK Conservative MEP Geoffrey Van Orden. Shaffaq Mohammed, who represents Britain's Liberal Democrats said, "We might be leaving the Union, but we're still European and we'll continue to be European." However, MEP and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage - a key figure of the UK leave campaign - left the building with a smile, saying, "We're leaving. Freedom, democracy, to self-governance, we've won!" The parliament's final approval of the withdrawal ends Britain's 47-year membership in the bloc. The vote was 621 to 49 in favour of the Brexit deal, with 13 abstentions. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...