EU parliament urges next phase Brexit talks, backs outline deal

The European Parliament urged EU leaders on Wednesday to allow the next phase of negotiations on Brexit to start, backing a motion recognizing that talks had made sufficient progress to move forward. Earlier on Wednesday, the EU’s chief negotiator told lawmakers that Britain could not renege on commitments it made in order to ensure that discussions with the EU could proceed regarding their future relationship. EU leaders are almost certain to agree on Friday that “sufficient progress” has been made on the rights of citizens, the Brexit divorce bill, and the Irish border to allow negotiations to move to the next phase, Reuters said. The EU executive recommended last week that leaders should approve the trade talks.