European lawmakers on Wednesday overwhelmingly backed the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union, paving the way for a full departure by Friday. With only two days to spare, legislators approved the withdrawal agreement that will end Britain’s 47-year membership. At the same time, the vote cut the 73 U.K. parliamentarians from the 751-seat legislature. Britain is seeking to thrash out a comprehensive trade deal before the end of the year – a timetable viewed by many observers of trade discussions as ambitious. "The priority is to define, in the short, medium and long term the interests of the European Union and to preserve them."

Source: Fox News January 29, 2020 20:26 UTC