EU lawmakers back association with Britain after Brexit

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union lawmakers on Wednesday passed a non-binding resolution calling for an association agreement with Britain after it leaves the bloc. The European Parliament, which will have a yes-no vote on any Brexit deal between the EU and London, backed a broad-based "association agreement" with Britain for the future that goes beyond a narrow focus on trade. The vote was 544 to 110. That is in sync with the 27 EU states that will remain members. They offered Britain a free-trade agreement that could also cover services and security cooperation but have rejected London's calls for a broader, bespoke deal. EU leaders will meet in Brussels next week, where they will discuss Brexit with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who will seek a deal on a transition period after her country leaves the union, as is due in March, 2019. Germany's Brexit point man on Wednesday said "a lot of progress" has been made in negotiations between London and the bloc in recent days. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, editing by Larry King)