Israel Rafalovich | Last week’s summit was seen as the deadline for the European Union and the United Kingdom agreeing on a deal. Now this date has passed and time is running out, although theoretically there is another chance to reach a deal at the summit in December.
Orsolya Raczova | The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but because of the necessary ratification procedures of an agreement, the plan was to reach a deal by the EU summit starting October 18. Although this deadline has been extended to mid-November, there is still worry that no deal would be reached.
via The Conversation | With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit edging closer to reality, the European Union is trying to foster some kind of deal on the remaining issues. Lead negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested that if both sides are “realistic”, there could be an agreement by the beginning of November.
Last Friday, the UK and the European Union finally presented a 15-page exit deal, ending six months of tedious negotiations. According to Julius Baer’s analysts “it was the breakthrough UK Prime Minister May needed so badly”, but looking at the details, “the deal contains some serious political stumbling blocks.”
Pressure is high on the UK to offer a better financial Brexit deal and a solution to Irish borders by 4 Dec. in order to unlock the more important talks on trade. A successful exit deal is the precondition to Julius Baer’s base case, which foresees a trade agreement but the loss of the EU passport.
Nick Ottens via Atlantic Sentinel |A transition deal might be good for Britain, but there are many reasons to doubt the EU would agree to it.
Nick Ottens via Atlantic Sentinel | Spain could use Britain’s exit from the EU to bargain for a new settlement for Gibraltar but vows not to.
Nick Ottens via Atlantic Sentinel | A year has passed since Britain voted to leave the European Union and huge questions remain unanswered. For example, what’s going to happen to Britain’s £700 billion trade with the EU? or how many planes will be allowed to fly across the Channel once Britain exits Europe’s open-skies regime?
June 19 was day one of the Brexit negotiations. David Davis and Michel Barnier will be leading what is expected to be one of the most tantalising sets of negotiations in the history of European integration. Difficult decisions will have to be taken on a number of issues, such as the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU, the Irish border and the future of the UK-EU trade relationship.
Last week marked the last prime minister’s questions before the British election in June and seems a good place to examine the reasons Theresa May might be less secure that she seems. While her Conservative Party is 21 points ahead of Labour in the polls — its biggest lead in almost a decade — there are four reasons to doubt it will stay there.