Brexit
The Brief – It takes EU to tango
As EU officials prepare for their holidays, they have an extra reason to pack their bags faster than usual; to avoid the siren call of British politicians haranguing them to reopen parts of the Brexit settlement. It would be easy,...
Von der Leyen rejects UK bid to reopen Irish protocol
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday (22 July) insisted that the EU would not reopen the controversial Northern Ireland protocol, a key part of the Brexit agreement with the UK, just a day after Boris Johnson’s published a paper setting out its plans to renegotiate it.
EU rejects UK demand for new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland
Britain demanded on Wednesday (21 July) that the European Union agree to rewrite a deal overseeing problematic post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland just a year after it was agreed with the bloc, a call immediately rejected by Brussels.
UK accuses EU of ‘seeking to undermine’ Gibraltar status
The UK government on Tuesday (20 July) accused the European Union of “seeking to undermine the UK’s sovereignty over Gibraltar”, warning that the bloc’s plans “cannot form a basis for negotiations”.
EU to detail future relationship with Gibraltar next week
The European Commission will put forward a mandate to negotiate a post-Brexit relationship with Gibraltar next week that would bring EU Frontex agents to its territory to avoid a hard border with Spain.
UK will set out plans to overhaul Irish protocol in weeks, say ministers
The UK plans to publish new plans aimed at overhauling the Northern Ireland Protocol later this month, ministers said on Thursday (8 July).
NGOs slam UK plans to copy Danish offshore asylum centres
UK plans to follow the lead of Denmark in seeking to establish offshore asylum processing centres have been met with swift condemnation from civil society groups and lawyers who argue that it would breach the country’s international obligations on refugees.
EU urges UK to accept Swiss-style deal to end agri-food standoff
The European Union urged London on Tuesday (6 July) to consider a Swiss-style veterinary agreement with Brussels on agri-foods to end a post-Brexit 'sausage war' row over certain goods moving between Britain and its province of Northern Ireland.
Germany and UK pledge closer cooperation on foreign policy
German and UK foreign ministers on Wednesday (30 June) pledged to cooperate more closely on foreign and security policy issues, reaffirming their commitment to the “strategic unity of Europe”.
Britain could face food shortages due to lorry driver crisis
Britain could face gaps on supermarket shelves this summer because of a shortage of more than 100,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, caused by a combination of fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, industry leaders have warned.
The Brief, powered by Martens Centre – Five years
Lest we forget, five years ago this week the UK voted to leave the EU. It seems like a world away, yet it is striking how little has changed.
Five years on, Brexit bedevils pandemic-hit UK
Five years on from Britain's shock decision to quit the European Union, the wounds opened by Brexit have yet to heal, and analysts say its far-reaching changes are only just beginning.
UK will not extend settlement scheme deadline for EU nationals
EU nationals living in the UK have a week until a 30 June deadline to apply for settled status, after officials confirmed that the cut-off date would not be extended.
The Brief, powered by Martens Centre – Not so settled status
Whether or not the UK government and EU counterparts care to admit it, living abroad has become more complicated in the age of no more free movement.
Britain begins negotiations to join trans-Pacific trade deal
Britain will begin negotiations on Tuesday (22 June) to join a trans-Pacific trade deal that it sees as crucial to its post-Brexit pivot away from Europe and towards geographically more distant but faster-growing economies.
Former UK speaker Bercow denounces Johnson and defects to Labour
The colourful former speaker of Britain's House of Commons John Bercow said he has left the Conservatives to join the opposition Labour Party, saying the country is "sick of lies" under Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
UK suffers ‘disaster’ £2bn drop in EU exports
In the first three months of this year, the UK food and drink sector has taken a £2 billion hit in lost exports to the EU, described by the industry as a ‘disaster’, according to new figures published on Friday (18 June).
Little progress, little time left to resolve Irish customs row, warns UK minister
Little progress is being made towards breaking the impasse with the EU on the customs procedures for goods travelling to Northern Ireland and time is running out, the UK's Brexit minister David Frost admitted on Wednesday (16 June), adding that London was "keeping all options open".
UK’s sausage row with EU goes from bad to wurst
UK anger with Europe sizzled on Sunday (13 June) after a sausage-themed dispute between the British and French leaders over post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.
The Brief – Battle of the bangers
In the British vintage comedy series Yes, Minister, the hapless Jim Hacker becomes prime minister on the strength of a campaign against plans by the European Commission to introduce a “Euro sausage”. That would mean the end of the gritty...
Macron plays on EU unity as Brexit row overshadows summit
French President Emmanuel Macron sought to portray a united European front at the G7 summit on Friday (11 June), tweeting a picture of the five EU leaders together, in a thinly veiled warning to the UK that the EU is united about the implementation of the Brexit agreement.
Elton John says Brexit a ‘catastrophe’ for new generation of UK singers
Elton John on Thursday (10 June) warned of a lost generation in the UK's music industry because of post-Brexit curbs on touring in the European Union.
UK skirts ‘special relationship’ talk for Biden meet
The UK-US "special relationship" has been an article of faith for generations of British leaders. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson is rejecting old pieties as he heads into his first face-to-face talks with President Joe Biden.