Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Inter-institutional relations and Foresight, Maros Sefcovic, gives a joint press after the third meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee with the British Chancellor and EU chief Brexit negotiator at the EU headquarters in Brussels on September 28, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

The ratification of the EU's massive trade deal with Britain easily cleared a key hurdle in the European Parliament on Thursday, with MEPs demanding further reassurances on the thorny issue of Northern Ireland.

Meeting jointly, the trade and foreign affairs committees gave approval with 108 votes in favour, one against and four abstentions, in a necessary step before a full session of parliament votes on the ratification of the deal.