Britain is not the only country agonising about the nature of its future relationship with the European Union. Switzerland has been negotiating with the EU for the last five years about a treaty for which Brussels has been pushing for the last decade.The treaty would tidy up the relationship between Switzerland and the EU and sit above 120 individual bilateral accords governing specific sectors.Switzerland currently enjoys a unique relationship with the EU.It is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) but, unlike other EFTA members such as Norway, is not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).As such, unlike the other members of the EEA, it enjoys access to the EU's single market while being under no legal obligation to adopt new EU legislation.It is outside the EU's customs union and so able to strike individual trade deals as it pleases.Were it not for the fact that Switzerland accepts freedom of movement with the EU, as the price of its membership of the single … [Read more...] about Why Swiss struggles do not bode well for UK after Brexit
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Hard Brexit Could Cost UK and EU Businesses Up to $27 Billion – HMRC Chief
The chief executive of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warned on Tuesday that a no-deal scenario could cost UK and EU businesses up to £20 billion (almost US$27 billion at the current GBP/USD exchange rate), the Guardian newspaper reported today. HMRC Chief Executive Jon Thompson told MPs of the Treasury select committee that under the “max-fac” model, which is preferred by many Brexiteers, customs declarations will quadruple to over 200 million per year. READ MORE: Top Tory Donor Thinks May is Actually the Problem in UK-EU Brexit Talks – Prof © REUTERS / Russell CheyneUK PM's Post-Brexit Customs Union Proposals Are 'Implausible' – CorbynUnder the “max-fac” model, all imports and exports would have to be declared to customs. He told the committee that almost US$9 billion of the total cost would be absorbed by EU firms, but warned that it could be passed … [Read more...] about Hard Brexit Could Cost UK and EU Businesses Up to $27 Billion – HMRC Chief
UK and Gibraltar work for Brexit deal that ‘fully recognises Rock’s priorities’
The UK said yesterday it continued to work with Gibraltar towards a Brexit deal that “fully recognises the priorities of the Rock”. The Department for Exiting the European Union made the statement after the seventh meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar Governments, which took place The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo led the Gibraltar team which included the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, the Attorney General Michael Llamas, the Financial Secretary Albert Mena and UK Representative Dominique Searle. Mr Picardo described the meeting as “very helpful” with “very positive progress for Gibraltar as a result”. The meeting was held against a backdrop of growing disagreement with Britain’s decision to quit the European Union amongst voters. A YouGov survey found 47% of voters thought the decision to leave was wrong, against just 40% who said it was the right thing to do – the widest margin since … [Read more...] about UK and Gibraltar work for Brexit deal that ‘fully recognises Rock’s priorities’
UK and Europe would ‘all lose’ without security deal, says Javid
The EU is split on post-Brexit security cooperation, the UK home secretary has said, as he introduced a new government counter-terrorism strategy with an appeal for Brussels to focus on maintaining strong links. Sajid Javid, outlining the approach, called Contest, in a speech in London, said it would be “wrong and reckless” for either side to seek a reduction in security and terror cooperation after Brexit. After the speech, Javid said the European commission was seeking to treat the UK as a third country, and that interior ministers he was meeting took a very different view. Security links have been one of the more contested areas of Brexit talks, with Theresa May facing resistance from some in the EU over her desire for a new treaty on cooperation. Officials have also said the UK should play no future part in the joint Galileo global satellite positioning project. After a speech that focused on what he said was a growing threat from both Islamist and far-right terrorists, … [Read more...] about UK and Europe would ‘all lose’ without security deal, says Javid
Northern Ireland must have same status as UK after Brexit, says DUP leader Arlene Foster
Arlene Foster says any deal that treats Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK is her party's "only red line" in Brexit negotiations. In an interview for Sky News, the DUP leader did not rule out a new customs union between the European Union and the entire United Kingdom.When asked if a new customs arrangement was the only way Theresa May could secure a deal without losing DUP support, she replied: "We have said to the Prime Minister that for us, our only red line is that we are not treated any differently from the rest of the United Kingdom, that there are no trade barriers put up between Northern Ireland and our biggest market which of course is Great Britain."So that's what we will judge of all propositions that are brought forward on."We will judge it against that red line and she's very much aware of that and I have confidence that she knows that she cannot bring forward anything that will breach that red line or we simply will not be able to support it."Mrs Foster … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland must have same status as UK after Brexit, says DUP leader Arlene Foster