France: Verhofstadt hails EP resolution supporting ‘justified’ Brexit extension

*NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Guy Verhofstadt, European Parliament Brexit Coordinator: "I am very pleased that this first resolution of this new parliament, because it is the first time that the new parliament is expressing itself on Brexit. We got in total four other resolutions but that was in the other parliament. So it was for me and for everybody in the house very important that in the midst of this endgame of negotiations on Brexit, that there would be a clear position by the new elected parliament. And as you have seen the resolution have been adopted without changes by a majority of 544 against 126. And 38 abstentions."
SOT, Guy Verhofstadt, European Parliament Brexit Coordinator: "The way it goes is that based on a positive opinion by the Brexit Steering Group, plus the AFCO (Constitutional Affairs Committee) has to look through the file [and] have to give a positive assessment, and then it goes to the Plenary. The Plenary can be here [Strasbourg], the Plenary can be in Brussels, because as you know we have two seats."
SCRIPT
European Parliament Brexit Coordinator Guy Verhofstadt hailed the passing of a non-binding resolution by the European Parliament which supports a 'justified' extension to the Brexit deadline should the UK request one. He made the comments at a press conference in Strasbourg on Wednesday shortly after the vote.
"I am very pleased that this first resolution of this new parliament, because it is the first time that the new parliament is expressing itself on Brexit," he stated.
The resolution also gives its support to an “orderly Brexit” on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement previously negotiated between the EU and UK. It also says there can be no withdrawal deal without a backstop.
The resolution was adopted without changes by a majority of 544 to 126. There were 38 abstentions.