BRUSSELS, January 16. /TASS/. The European Commission will have to step up preparations for a no-deal Brexit after the UK parliament voted to reject the withdrawal agreement between London and Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement.
"The risk of a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom has increased with this evening's vote," the statement reads. "While we do not want this to happen, the European Commission will continue its contingency work to help ensure the EU is fully prepared. I urge the United Kingdom to clarify its intentions as soon as possible."
However, the European Commission president said that "on the EU side, the process of ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement continues."
"The Withdrawal Agreement is a fair compromise and the best possible deal. It reduces the damage caused by Brexit for citizens and businesses across Europe," Juncker added. "It is the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union."
A total of 432 lawmakers voted against the deal, approved by London and Brussels last November after some 18 months of negotiations. Only 202 members of parliament supported it. The 230-vote margin has become the biggest defeat for a UK premier in parliament in 95 years.
According to the document, during the entire transition period after Brexit, which would last through 2020 and may be extended once, the United Kingdom will in fact retain all of its commitments as the EU member (including making contributions to the EU budget and complying with all regulations of the European market). At the same time, London will be excluded from the European decision-making process during that period.
The 585-page document also offers no solution to the main stumbling block - the control of the border separating the Northern Ireland that would leave the EU as part of the United Kingdom and EU member Ireland. In the document, the only commit themselves to solving the matter by the summer of 2020. As long as the issue remains unsolved, Northern Ireland will remain a part of the common European market, which London views as partially losing its sovereignty over the territory.
The United Kingdom is to leave the European Union in 73 days. However, EU leaders have repeatedly said that the deal will not be renegotiated and, if London fails to pass the document, the Brexit will be held under the no-deal scenario.