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European Parliament Approves Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

The European Parliament voted 621-49 to approve the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement on Wednesday.
Posted at 7:56 PM, Jan 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-29 19:56:08-05

The U.K. is one step closer to leaving the EU after the European Parliament approved the withdrawal agreement on Wednesday. 

Members approved the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement with a 621-49 vote. The European Council still has to sign off on it in order to finalize the exit.

EU Parliament members held hands and sang after approving the deal. 

"I want to use the words of the famous British poet George Eliot. She said, 'Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love,'" said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. "We will always love you and we will never be far; long live Europe." 

The vote comes just a week after the agreement got the green light from the U.K.'s Parliament. It became law shortly after with the queen's approval.

The U.K. is scheduled to exit the EU on Friday at 11 p.m. local time.

Contains footage from CNN