The European Parliament this morning voted overwhelmingly to approve the Paris Climate Change Agreement that was brokered last year. Today’s vote paves the way for the Agreement to be ratified by the European Union. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below two degrees (2°C). The United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon addressed MEPs in the Parliament before today’s vote. 

Out words: societies

Dur; 00:35 

Any Brexit deal brokered between the European Union and the UK cannot undermine the EU’s right to freedom of movement. So said the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Belgian MEP Guy Verhoftstadt (Ver – hof – stat) who was speaking in the European Parliament this morning. Last weekend the British Prime Minister Theresa May suggested that there would be no compromise on immigration to keep the UK in the EU’s single market. However Mr Verhofstadt says the free movement of people and workers must remain a key criteria for continual access to the EU’s single market.

Out words: internal market

Dur: 0.33

The UK has to live up to its
responsibilities when it comes to understanding the special case and needs of
Northern Ireland during the Brexit negotiations. That’s the advice from the
Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness. The Midlands North-West MEP was reacting to
the British Prime Minister Theresa May’s comments on Brexit last weekend. Mrs
May suggested Britain would not compromise on immigration for access to a
single market. However Mairead McGuinness warns the British Brexit negotiators
can’t ignore Northern Ireland’s special  situation.

Out words: the negotiations

Dur: 
00:42