LISBON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa lamented rejection by the British Parliament of the country's exit agreement from the European Union on Tuesday, saying he hoped that the British authorities would "quickly" inform them of their next steps to avoid an uncontrolled exit.
Costa was speaking to reporters at a hotel in capital Lisbon shortly after British parliament rejected the UK's exit agreement negotiated by the government of Prime Minister Theresa May with Brussels in a 432-202 vote.
"I regret that it was not possible to approve the long-negotiated agreement between the European Union and the British government, because it was a good agreement, since it corresponded to the needs of British citizens in the European Union and citizens of the Union residing in the United Kingdom, " Costa said.
"The agreement provided a good basis for a transition to a UK exit, which the European Union does not want but respects, allowing time for a calm and quiet negotiation on the future relationship, which we all wish to be as close as possible," he added.
Costa said he now expects the UK "to inform the European Union quickly of what it intends to do in the next steps, because there is something essential to avoid: out of control."
