MEPs back tough EU negotiating stance with UK

The European Parliament on Wednesday backed a tough EU negotiating position with Britain that emphasises access for EU fishing boats and a continued role for the European Court of Justice.

The vote, which passed 579 in favour and 24 against, is non-binding but follows the general lines of a mandate whose details are to be finalised by the European Commission and member states ahead of negotiations.

The talks aim to work out the future relationship between the EU and Britain following the latter's exit from the bloc two weeks ago.

Currently, a transition period running to the end of the year lets Britain operate almost like an EU member state while the negotiations take place.

The parliament stated that Britain going forward "must not have the same rights and benefits as a member state of the EU" and yet has to comply with a number of conditions, including following EU norms and standards.

But a British government spokesman in London reacted by saying: "The British people voted to be ..