"There is a conversation going on now about the EU's desire to build a common security and defense policy, new architecture for that," UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the Royal Institute of International Affairs on Friday. "If they want to do that fine ... We are not there to block or to impede further steps towards EU integration." Johnson's comments appeared to break away from the ruling Conservative Party's line on EU defense. Defense minister Michael Fallon has previously said he would stop the creation of an EU army while Britain remained in the bloc as it would undermine NATO. A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said the government did not agree with the notion of a European defense force. Any EU defense policy should compliment rather than duplicate NATO, the UK government has said. UK committed to fulfill NATO obligations Johnson also used the talk to reaffirm Britain's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but called for greater spending by … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson: UK will not block common EU defense policy
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EU ‘worries’ that UK wants to use Ireland as customs ‘test case’
Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator for Brexit, on Thursday criticized the UK government for their proposals on how to deal with the post-Brexit border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying he was worried that "the UK wants to use Ireland as a kind of test case for a future UK-EU customs relationship." Last month, the UK government proposed a freewheeling series of waivers for various people and goods that will cross the Irish-Northern Irish frontier after Brexit — part of their plan to avoid the return of border posts at what will become an external frontier of the EU once the UK officially exits. The issue of Ireland and the avoidance of a hard border is one of three main priorities for the EU in the Brexit negotiations but Mr. Barnier, speaking in Brussels after the publication of the EU's 'Guiding Principles on the Dialogue for Ireland/Northern Ireland', was strongly critical of the UK's current stance in terms of customs and economic movement. "What I see in the … [Read more...] about EU ‘worries’ that UK wants to use Ireland as customs ‘test case’
UK PM Theresa May proposes Brexit transition in Florence speech
Speaking in front of a grey and white map of the world with the motto "Shared History, Shared Challenges, Shared Future" British Prime Minister Theresa May read her 5,000-word Cabinet-approved speech in a building, reported to be a disused police barracks, next door to the ancient Santa Maria Novella church in Florence, Italy on Friday. Never at home in Europe? May suggested Britain had for geographical reasons never felt completely part of Europe and the vote to leave taken narrowly in the referendum in June 2016 was in part to regain "domestic democratic control" from the EU. The prime minister suggested there was a profound responsibility to make the decision work and be "imaginative and creative" in making a new relationship between the UK and the EU. May referred to the 14 papers published by the UK on Brexit and three rounds of sometimes "tough" negotiations with "concrete progress" being made on issues such as Northern Ireland and the … [Read more...] about UK PM Theresa May proposes Brexit transition in Florence speech
EU expects concrete Brexit proposals from UK’s Theresa May
After three rounds of negotiations, Brexit talks have reached an impasse. That is the view of the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and that is why he was not particularly optimistic about Theresa May's speech in Florence on Friday. "The speech shows a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence," noted Barnier. While the UK prime minister had delivered her much-anticipated address, he said she must now prove her "constructive spirit" and put forth concrete proposals. Why Florence? May chose the Italian Renaissance city as the backdrop for her speech because of its history as a trading power, according to 10 Downing Street. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Florence was practically the heart of European commerce. Perhaps the prime minister was hoping for a renaissance of her own in UK-EU relations. "We may be leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe," was the message May conveyed, as she so often has. So does Florence indeed symbolize … [Read more...] about EU expects concrete Brexit proposals from UK’s Theresa May
S&P downgrades UK credit rating
US ratings agency Standard & Poor's on Monday stripped the United Kingdom of its last remaining top-notch credit rating, slashing its AAA status by two notches and warning more downgrades could follow after Britons voted to leave the EU. "In our opinion, this outcome [the pro-Brexit vote] is a seminal event and will lead to a less predictable and less effective policy framework in the UK," the agency said in a statement. The loss of its triple-A credit rating came as a fresh blow to Britain's economic standing after the June 23 referendum, with sterling plunging to a 31-year low against the greenback and the country's stock market taking another dive. Weaker reserve currency "The negative outlook reflects the risk of economic prospects, fiscal and external performance, and the role of sterling as a reserve currency," Standard & Poor's noted. It also spoke of "risks to the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK, if there's another referendum on Scottish … [Read more...] about S&P downgrades UK credit rating