T today the vice-president of the European Commission for inter-institutional relations, Maroš Šefčovič, presented a pragmatic solution to the conflict. He offered to remove the majority of checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, introduced as part of the protocol to avoid the risk of unregulated ware entering the single market via the Irish border.
Read more at:
Brexit: why does Northern Ireland matter so much? – Robin Wilson
Showing posts with label Northern Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northern Ireland. Show all posts
10/14/21
10/11/19
Brexit: EU and UK to 'intensify' Brexit talks
The European Commission on Friday released a statement saying the "EU
and the UK have agreed to intensify discussions over the coming days."
The statement followed a meeting between EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay.
The UK is set to leave the European Union on 31 October as outstanding issues remain entrenched on efforts to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
Read more: EU and UK to 'intensify' Brexit talks
The statement followed a meeting between EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay.
The UK is set to leave the European Union on 31 October as outstanding issues remain entrenched on efforts to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
Read more: EU and UK to 'intensify' Brexit talks
10/2/19
Brexit: UK′s Boris Johnson sends last-gasp Brexit proposals to Brussels
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker a four-page letter on Wednesday
offering what he described as a "fair and reasonable" compromise to get
Brexit over the line before the October 31 deadline.
The proposal said it would be a "failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible" if the two sides failed to reach an agreement. He added that "both sides now need to consider whether there is sufficient willingness to compromise" to get a "rapid" deal done in time.
According
to a UK official, Johnson subsequently spoke with European leaders,
including Germany's Angela Merkel and Ireland's Leo Varadkar, in
addition to the EU's Juncker.
Later on Wednesday, 10 Downing Street also announced plans to prorogue parliament from Tuesday, October 8 until the following Monday. This follows the recent Supreme Court decision nullifying the government's bid to shutter parliament for 5 weeks.
The end date for the prorogation, October 14, just before the decisive EU leaders' summit, is the same as the previous attempt to shut the chamber.
No backstop, but also few details, for Northern Ireland
The core suggestion in the letter to Brussels was the abolition of the backstop for Northern Ireland — an insurance policy designed to ensure there is no return to customs posts or other infrastructure on the UK border in Ireland.
Instead, the government suggested "the potential creation of an all-island regulatory zone on the island of Ireland, covering all goods including agrifoods."
The letter offered few details on how or whether this could be achieved and said it should depend on consent from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's Assembly at Stormont has not been in session since January 2017.
Read more at: UK′s Boris Johnson sends last-gasp Brexit proposals to Brussels | News | DW | 02.10.2019
The proposal said it would be a "failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible" if the two sides failed to reach an agreement. He added that "both sides now need to consider whether there is sufficient willingness to compromise" to get a "rapid" deal done in time.
Later on Wednesday, 10 Downing Street also announced plans to prorogue parliament from Tuesday, October 8 until the following Monday. This follows the recent Supreme Court decision nullifying the government's bid to shutter parliament for 5 weeks.
The end date for the prorogation, October 14, just before the decisive EU leaders' summit, is the same as the previous attempt to shut the chamber.
No backstop, but also few details, for Northern Ireland
The core suggestion in the letter to Brussels was the abolition of the backstop for Northern Ireland — an insurance policy designed to ensure there is no return to customs posts or other infrastructure on the UK border in Ireland.
Instead, the government suggested "the potential creation of an all-island regulatory zone on the island of Ireland, covering all goods including agrifoods."
The letter offered few details on how or whether this could be achieved and said it should depend on consent from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's Assembly at Stormont has not been in session since January 2017.
Read more at: UK′s Boris Johnson sends last-gasp Brexit proposals to Brussels | News | DW | 02.10.2019
7/25/19
Britain - EU Relations: EU negotiator Michel Barnier calls Boris Johnson′s Brexit stance ′unacceptable′
Since taking office on Wednesday and filling his Cabinet with
hard-line Brexiteer politicians, Boris Johnson has insisted on striking a
new deal with the European Union that would omit the so-called backstop
for preventing a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and the
British territory of Northern Ireland.
In an email to national governments on Thursday, EU negotiator Michel Barnier wrote that Johnson's demand was "of course unacceptable and not within the mandate of the European Council."
"No deal will never be the EU's choice, but we all have to be ready for all scenarios," Barnier wrote. The EU had to be ready for Johnson giving "priority" to planning for a no-deal exit, "partly to heap pressure on the unity" on the remaining 27 member states, he added.
Current President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed Barnier's comments he spoke with the new British premier on Thursday. "President Juncker listened to what Prime Minister Johnson had to say, reiterating the EU's position that the Withdrawal Agreement is the best and only agreement possible — in line with the European Council guidelines," Juncker's spokeswoman said after the telephone conversation.
"President Juncker reiterated that the Commission remains available over the coming weeks should the United Kingdom wish to hold talks and clarify its position in more detail," she said.
A spokesman for Johnson's office said the prime minister had told Juncker the backstop would have to be abolished to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Johnson also stated that the withdrawal agreement made between Prime Minister Theresa May and the US would not pass parliament in its current form.
Britain-EU Relations: EU negotiator Michel Barnier calls Boris Johnson′s Brexit stance ′unacceptable′ | News | DW | 25.07.2019
The Digest Group
Almere-Digest
EU-Digest
Insure-Digest
Turkish-Digest
For additional information, including advertising rates - e-mail:Freeplanet@protonmail.com
In an email to national governments on Thursday, EU negotiator Michel Barnier wrote that Johnson's demand was "of course unacceptable and not within the mandate of the European Council."
"No deal will never be the EU's choice, but we all have to be ready for all scenarios," Barnier wrote. The EU had to be ready for Johnson giving "priority" to planning for a no-deal exit, "partly to heap pressure on the unity" on the remaining 27 member states, he added.
Current President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed Barnier's comments he spoke with the new British premier on Thursday. "President Juncker listened to what Prime Minister Johnson had to say, reiterating the EU's position that the Withdrawal Agreement is the best and only agreement possible — in line with the European Council guidelines," Juncker's spokeswoman said after the telephone conversation.
"President Juncker reiterated that the Commission remains available over the coming weeks should the United Kingdom wish to hold talks and clarify its position in more detail," she said.
A spokesman for Johnson's office said the prime minister had told Juncker the backstop would have to be abolished to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Johnson also stated that the withdrawal agreement made between Prime Minister Theresa May and the US would not pass parliament in its current form.
Britain-EU Relations: EU negotiator Michel Barnier calls Boris Johnson′s Brexit stance ′unacceptable′ | News | DW | 25.07.2019
The Digest Group
Almere-Digest
EU-Digest
Insure-Digest
Turkish-Digest
For additional information, including advertising rates - e-mail:Freeplanet@protonmail.com
2/8/19
Brexit : Scaring Northern Ireland residents that violence could be reignited
'Torn apart' by Brexit: Northern Ireland residents fear border could reignite violence
Read more at:
1/6/19
Britain - Brexit - North Ireland: North Ireland DUP slams Theresa May's toxic deal ahead of the vote
Brexit: Northern Irish DUP slams Theresa May's 'toxic' deal ahead of vote
Read more at:
https://p.dw.com/p/3B5TI
9/4/18
2/27/18
Britain: Why Brexit risks ending the United Kingdom as we know it - by Nic Robertson
Brexit is entering some make-or-break weeks. The contentious issue of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is coming due.
Movement on all things Brexit -- be it the internal machinations of British Prime Minister Theresa May's government or direct talks with the European Union -- has been glacial.
Agreements arrive incrementally, often accompanied -- to quote Matthew 13:42 -- amid much "wailing and gnashing of teeth" to the point that many of us want to close our ears until the next phase of Brexit is done with.
But to do so this week would have meant missing some of Britain's constitutional crockery being banged around by those who should know better.
Some hardline Brexiteers on both sides of the House of Commons have been undermining Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement (also known as the Belfast Agreement), calling it "unsustainable".
The agreement has survived the tumult of 20 years of provincial point scoring. It ended 30 years of bloodletting. But now some appear prepared to see it sacrificed at the altar of a so-called hard Brexit.
The pressure on May is mounting when members of her own party are ready to call Northern Ireland's peace process dead.
She came to office under a cloud of rampant Scottish nationalism that was threatening to end a union that has lasted more than 300 years.
Direct from meeting the Queen, before even setting foot inside 10 Downing Street, she told the country she would not countenance Britain's breakup. < "The full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, and that word unionist is very important to me.
It means we believe in the union -- the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland."
Whether she can keep the union together will depend on her ability to pull her hardliners back from the brink of scuttling the Good Friday Agreement, and convincing the DUP that a marginally looser union might be the only one that can survive Brexit.
Read more: Why Brexit risks ending the United Kingdom as we know it - CNN
Movement on all things Brexit -- be it the internal machinations of British Prime Minister Theresa May's government or direct talks with the European Union -- has been glacial.
Agreements arrive incrementally, often accompanied -- to quote Matthew 13:42 -- amid much "wailing and gnashing of teeth" to the point that many of us want to close our ears until the next phase of Brexit is done with.
But to do so this week would have meant missing some of Britain's constitutional crockery being banged around by those who should know better.
Some hardline Brexiteers on both sides of the House of Commons have been undermining Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement (also known as the Belfast Agreement), calling it "unsustainable".
The agreement has survived the tumult of 20 years of provincial point scoring. It ended 30 years of bloodletting. But now some appear prepared to see it sacrificed at the altar of a so-called hard Brexit.
The pressure on May is mounting when members of her own party are ready to call Northern Ireland's peace process dead.
She came to office under a cloud of rampant Scottish nationalism that was threatening to end a union that has lasted more than 300 years.
Direct from meeting the Queen, before even setting foot inside 10 Downing Street, she told the country she would not countenance Britain's breakup. < "The full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, and that word unionist is very important to me.
It means we believe in the union -- the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland."
Whether she can keep the union together will depend on her ability to pull her hardliners back from the brink of scuttling the Good Friday Agreement, and convincing the DUP that a marginally looser union might be the only one that can survive Brexit.
Read more: Why Brexit risks ending the United Kingdom as we know it - CNN
Northern Ireland: European Parliament will fight to keep Northern Ireland subject to EU law after Brexit, says Guy Verhofstadt - by James Crisp
Guy Verhofstadt declared on Tuesday the European Parliament would fight to ensure that Northern Ireland remains subject to EU law after Brexit and heaped yet more pressure on Mrs May in a crunch week for the Prime Minister.
British MEPs accused the parliament’s Brexit coordinator of "intolerable interference" in UK affairs and of trying to topple Theresa May’s government.
Mr Verhofstadt, the parliament’s Brexit coordinator, told MEPs in the Constitutional Affairs Committee that it was the only way to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Read more: European Parliament will fight to keep Northern Ireland subject to EU law after Brexit, says Guy Verhofstadt
British MEPs accused the parliament’s Brexit coordinator of "intolerable interference" in UK affairs and of trying to topple Theresa May’s government.
Mr Verhofstadt, the parliament’s Brexit coordinator, told MEPs in the Constitutional Affairs Committee that it was the only way to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Read more: European Parliament will fight to keep Northern Ireland subject to EU law after Brexit, says Guy Verhofstadt
7/2/17
Brexit Britain: falling pound, border fears and a frightened workforce
A year after Britain voted to leave the EU the pound is at least ten
percent weaker, the economy is shaky and may be headed for a downturn
and Theresa May’s minority government is weak after losing its majority in parliament after June’s general election.
There’s also the worrying possibility that a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland could unravel the Good Friday Peace Agreement.
The uncertainty is infectious.
In her first policy position after the two year long Brexit negotiations started earlier this month, May set out her plan for the rights of the three million or so EU citizens living in the UK. They will only qualify for “settled” status after five consecutive years living in Britain.
But this has not gone far enough to reassure many EU officials including Guy Verhofstadt, the Brexit co-ordinator for the European Parliament.
A report by the consultancy firm Deloitte released on June 27th suggests that 47 percent of highly skilled EU workers are now considering leaving Britain.
One of them is Joana Ferreira, a dentist who works in a private practice on the outskirts of London, and who arrived from Portugal four and a half years ago.
“I’m just worried about the living conditions, really,” said Ferreira. “Am I going to be able to work? Am I going to get a normal salary, like everyone? Am I going to be kicked out of the country? I don’t know, nobody knows!”
Joana and her husband have a three year old daughter who was born in Britain and they had planned for her to grow up in the country.
“I just feel very insecure of what’s going to happen in the future. I really want to know more so I can plan. Because at the moment, I cannot plan anything in my life,” she said.
Joana’s employer Smita Mehra, the managing director of The Neem Tree practice, is also worried as 60 percent of the staff at the four practices she manages are non-British EU nationals.
Read more: Brexit Britain: falling pound, border fears and a frightened workforce | Euronews
There’s also the worrying possibility that a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland could unravel the Good Friday Peace Agreement.
The uncertainty is infectious.
In her first policy position after the two year long Brexit negotiations started earlier this month, May set out her plan for the rights of the three million or so EU citizens living in the UK. They will only qualify for “settled” status after five consecutive years living in Britain.
But this has not gone far enough to reassure many EU officials including Guy Verhofstadt, the Brexit co-ordinator for the European Parliament.
A report by the consultancy firm Deloitte released on June 27th suggests that 47 percent of highly skilled EU workers are now considering leaving Britain.
One of them is Joana Ferreira, a dentist who works in a private practice on the outskirts of London, and who arrived from Portugal four and a half years ago.
“I’m just worried about the living conditions, really,” said Ferreira. “Am I going to be able to work? Am I going to get a normal salary, like everyone? Am I going to be kicked out of the country? I don’t know, nobody knows!”
Joana and her husband have a three year old daughter who was born in Britain and they had planned for her to grow up in the country.
“I just feel very insecure of what’s going to happen in the future. I really want to know more so I can plan. Because at the moment, I cannot plan anything in my life,” she said.
Joana’s employer Smita Mehra, the managing director of The Neem Tree practice, is also worried as 60 percent of the staff at the four practices she manages are non-British EU nationals.
Read more: Brexit Britain: falling pound, border fears and a frightened workforce | Euronews
4/28/17
Northern Ireland: EU signals Northern Ireland could join if united with Ireland - by Eszter Zalan
EU leaders are to confirm at a summit in Brussels on Saturday (28
April) that if Northern Ireland reunited with Ireland it would
automatically become part of the bloc.
The issue could irritate London ahead of 8 June's general election and the soon-to-begin Brexit talks.
The Irish commitment, which had always been an informal understanding, will not be part of the EU 27’s negotiating guidelines, but it will be annexed to the document as part of the minutes of the discussion upon Ireland's request.
The British government has a similar understanding.
Brexit secretary David Davis in a leaked letter in March said: "In that event [Irish reunification] Northern Ireland would be in a position of becoming part of an existing EU member state, rather than seeking to join the EU as a new independent state."
On the other hand, if Scotland broke away from the UK to become a sovereign state it would have to apply for EU membership.
The Scottish government said it wants to hold a new independence referendum because Scots voted to stay in the EU in the Brexit referendum last year.
The Irish pledge is the only new element that has emerged in the EU's position as it prepares for its first ever formal summit without the UK under the Article 50 exit procedure.
Read more: EU signals Northern Ireland could join if united with Ireland
The issue could irritate London ahead of 8 June's general election and the soon-to-begin Brexit talks.
The Irish commitment, which had always been an informal understanding, will not be part of the EU 27’s negotiating guidelines, but it will be annexed to the document as part of the minutes of the discussion upon Ireland's request.
The British government has a similar understanding.
Brexit secretary David Davis in a leaked letter in March said: "In that event [Irish reunification] Northern Ireland would be in a position of becoming part of an existing EU member state, rather than seeking to join the EU as a new independent state."
On the other hand, if Scotland broke away from the UK to become a sovereign state it would have to apply for EU membership.
The Scottish government said it wants to hold a new independence referendum because Scots voted to stay in the EU in the Brexit referendum last year.
The Irish pledge is the only new element that has emerged in the EU's position as it prepares for its first ever formal summit without the UK under the Article 50 exit procedure.
Read more: EU signals Northern Ireland could join if united with Ireland
3/29/17
Brexit : Britain between a rock and a hard place: First EU response to article 50 takes tough line on transitional deal - by Daniel Boffey
 |
| "Brexit and the Mouse that roare": sorry to see you go Britain |
A leaked copy of the resolution, on which the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has been a close conspirator, lays bare the tough path ahead for Britain as the historic process of withdrawing from the trade bloc begins.
Across 11 pages of clauses, May is warned that the EU will stridently protect its political, financial and social interests, and that the position for the UK even during the transition period will not be as positive as it is today.
A withdrawal agreement, covering financial liabilities, citizens’ rights and the border in Ireland, will need to be accepted by a qualified majority of 72% of the EU’s remaining 27 member states, representing 65% of the population. The agreement would then need to be approved by the European parliament, voting by a simple majority.
Barnier has said that any free trade deal, to be struck after the UK leaves, would be a “mixed agreement” requiring ratification by the national parliaments of the 27 states, plus consent by the European parliament.
Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s permanent representative to the EU, delivered a letter to the European council president, Donald Tusk, at 12.30pm notifying the EU of Britain’s intention to leave, as May stood up in the House of Commons to make a statement to MPs.
Addressing a press conference half an hour later, Tusk said: “There is no need to pretend that this is a happy day, neither in Brussels or in London. After all most Europeans, including almost half the British voters, wish that we would stay together not drift apart.”
Tusk said that Brexit would bind the remaining 27 member states together, and that the council and the European commission had a strong mandate to protect the EU’s interests. But he added: “As for me I will not pretend I am happy…”
One positive development following Brexit. It brought the other 27 member states of the EU with a population of close to half a billion people closer together with no one of its present leaders ready to call a referendum or announce they would be leaving the EU
EU-Digest
10/6/14
Northern Ireland has 'more than 140 crime gangs'
More than 140 crime gangs
are operating in Northern Ireland, and the National Crime Agency must
be given full powers to tackle them, the DUP had said.
The NCA has fewer powers in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK.
This was due to concern from nationalist and republican politicians about the agency's oversight.
The NCA, which was launched exactly one year ago, answers directly to the home secretary, meaning devolved governments do not have oversight or control over the agency.
Read more: BBC News - DUP: Northern Ireland has 'more than 140 crime gangs'
6/3/12
Soccer: Netherlands hit six past Northern Ireland in final warm-up for Euro 2012
In their final friendly, Holland set out in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben, Ibrahim Afellay and Wesley Sneijder taking the four forward-thinking positions in the line-up. It’s certainly a quadrant of players that can compare with anything Spain currently put on the pitch.
With De Jong and Van Bommel sitting, it gives all of them the chance to make an impact at the top end of the pitch, which is certainly where they’ll be looking to do most damage in Group B alongside Denmark, Portugal and Germany.
True, Michael O’Neill’s inexperienced side offered little in the way of resistance, but the Dutch did exactly what they needed to do in a final statement of intent as the world’s number two side.
It was Arsenal striker Van Persie who did the damage with two goals and two assists, opening the scoring with a far post header on 11 minutes from a well worked corner.
Read more: Netherlands hit six past Northern Ireland in final warm-up for Euro 2012 | Give Me Football
With De Jong and Van Bommel sitting, it gives all of them the chance to make an impact at the top end of the pitch, which is certainly where they’ll be looking to do most damage in Group B alongside Denmark, Portugal and Germany.
True, Michael O’Neill’s inexperienced side offered little in the way of resistance, but the Dutch did exactly what they needed to do in a final statement of intent as the world’s number two side.
It was Arsenal striker Van Persie who did the damage with two goals and two assists, opening the scoring with a far post header on 11 minutes from a well worked corner.
Read more: Netherlands hit six past Northern Ireland in final warm-up for Euro 2012 | Give Me Football
11/19/07
Belfast Telegraph: Ireland: Irish adults the third-heaviest drinkers in Europe while Luxembourg and Hungary lead the pack
For the complete report from the Belfast Telegraph click on this link
Ireland: Irish adults the third-heaviest drinkers in Europe while Luxembourg and Hungary lead the pack
Irish adults are the third-heaviest drinkers in Europe, according to a report published by the Health Service Executive today. The report is based on data from the Central Statistics Office and the Revenue Commissioners. It says the average Irish person consumes 10.6 litres of pure alcohol every year. Luxembourg and Hungary are the only European countries with higher consumption rates.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)