Brexit Archives

The EU and UK formally agreed their negotiating mandates for talks on a new trade and political partnership on Tuesday (25 February), setting the stage for a bruising battle on regulatory standards.

EU envoys met Monday (24 February) to try to finalise a mandate for chief negotiator Michel Barnier ahead of what promises to be stormy talks with Britain on its future relations with the bloc.

A no-deal Brexit at the end of the year, or even a minimal, thin-deal Brexit, with no provision for cooperation on science, innovation and other crucial fields, would deliver a serious blow to economic competitiveness in the UK and the EU, writes Sir Michael Leigh.

Britain must not exclude its huge services industry from a planned trade deal with the European Union as the price for reclaiming control over its economy, a group representing British employers said on Monday (24 February).

Google is planning to move its British users' accounts out of the control of European Union privacy regulators, placing them under US jurisdiction instead, the company confirmed late on Wednesday (19 February).

EU nationals without a well-paid job offer and sufficient qualifications will be unable to work in the UK in the future, according to a tough new ‘points-based’ immigration system that will come into force when it leaves the EU's Single Market at the end of 2020.

The EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Wednesday (19 February) expressed irritation at a combative tweet from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office claiming that Brussels is shifting objectives in upcoming trade talks.

Boris Johnson’s government is anxious to make sure that EU leaders understand that the days of compromise under Theresa May are over. On Monday night (17 February), his EU adviser David Frost delivered that message without fear or favour.

Britain will develop its own system for regulating state aid and controlling subsidies after its post-Brexit transition period is over, London's negotiator for the long-term relationship with the European Union said on Monday (17 February).

Gibraltar is encouraged by Spain's "pragmatism" on its key demand that their mutual border remain fully open after the Brexit transition period expires at the end of 2020, its deputy chief minister said on Monday (17 February).

Britain will “turn off the tap” of foreign, low-skilled labor and require all skilled workers wishing to come to the country to have a job offer and meet salary and language requirements as it sets post-Brexit rules from next year.

French President Emmanuel Macron bemoaned a "weakening of the West" on Saturday (15 February) and called for more German involvement, while the US Secretary of State attempted to assuage European anxiety about declining transatlantic relation.

Six cabinet ministers resigned or were sacked from Boris Johnson's government in a surprisingly brutal ministerial reshuffle on Thursday (13 February) as the maverick prime minister asserted his dominance in the post-Brexit United Kingdom

EU lawmakers are expected to greenlight on Wednesday (12 February) EU plans to open talks on a post-Brexit partnership with the UK but warned that it will come with strings attached.

Sinn Féin made only one mistake: had it run multiple candidates in its strongest constituencies, it could have become the largest party in the Irish parliament by a long lead, writes Dick Roche.

Amid all the hot-air about the economic effects of Brexit, the impact on other countries is often lost. Belgium is no exception - the UK is Belgium’s fourth-largest trading partner, responsible for 8% of its exports and 5% of its imports.

Britain plans to announce the location of up to 10 post-Brexit freeports by the end this year so they can begin operating in 2021, the government said on Sunday (9 February).

Without the UK, the EU can expect smoother legislative procedures in most Council configurations and policy areas, especially in justice and home affairs, institutional and budgetary matters as well as foreign policy. The voting weight of Britons will be particularly …

The European Union must not give the UK concessions on access to EU financial markets in exchange for rights to fish in British waters, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday (6 February).

Northern Irish police said Thursday (6 February) they had found a bomb attached to a truck which was intended to go off as the UK left the European Union.

Media freedom watchdogs, journalists associations and politicians have cried foul at the worsening media policies in the UK, following the banning of certain journalists from a press briefing by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and plans to decriminalise failure to pay BBC licence fees.

Ireland goes to the polls on Saturday (8 February), with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar touting his successful handling of Brexit, but facing pressure over housing and healthcare.

London is currently Europe's leading financial centre but the French authorities dream of seeing Paris in the lead. However, it remains to be seen if the City will lose access to European markets after the UK-EU negotiations this year. EURACTIV's partner EUROEFE reports.

Cross-Channel rail link Eurostar will operate a return London-Amsterdam service from April, the company announced on Tuesday (4 February), as it aims to up its game against short-haul plane travel. Eurostar has operated a one-way service to Amsterdam from the British …