Finance & Trade

EU Official Calls for UK to Stay in Bloc's Customs Union

March 28, 2018

The Guardian reports that the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan from Ireland, has called on the British government to drop its opposition to remaining in a customs union with the EU after Brexit, asserting that such a concession would be the only way for a successful resolution of negotiations over Britain's border with Ireland.
Cleppe: EU Cannot Justify Rigidity in Trade Talks with UK

March 27, 2018

Pieter Cleppe of the think tank Open Europe argues that EU officials are responding to reasonable proposals from UK Prime Minister Theresa May on opening up specific sectors to the EU in a broad, post-Brexit free-trade deal with a "rigidity" that cannot be justified given the EU's relative flexibility in trade arrangements with countries like Switzerland.
May Calls for Ambitious Trade Deal with EU

March 27, 2018

In a recent speech in London, UK Prime Minister Theresa May called for the agreement of a free-trade deal between Britain and the EU "covering more sectors and co-operating more fully” than any other trade deal across the globe.
Academic: Brexit Must Mean Leaving EU Customs Union

March 22, 2018

Professor Vernon Bogdanor of King's College London writes that remaining part of a customs union with the EU while not being a member of the bloc is not a viable option for Britain.
Former EU Official: UK Must Make Choice on Financial Rules

March 20, 2018

Former European Commissioner for finance, UK peer Jonathan Hill writes that the UK must abandon the negotiation of impossible terms of financial "access" with EU officials and must instead spell out the choice between taking rules from the EU, with access to its markets, and having the final say over financial rules, with short-term market disruption.
EP Brexit Chief Denies Special Financial-Services Deal

March 19, 2018

City A.M. reports that the European Parliament's (EP) designated Brexit chief, Guy Verhofstadt, has warned the UK that EU negotiators will not accept a "bespoke" deal on financial services permitting "passporting" rights to British financial companies wishing to operate across the bloc.
EU Officials Reject UK Approach to Post-Brexit Trade

March 09, 2018

The Guardian reports that, prior to UK Prime Minister Theresa May's recent cabinet meeting to agree a "three baskets" approach to post-Brexit trade with the EU, involving regulatory harmonization with the EU in some areas and divergence in others, EU officials rejected the approach as inconsistent with the political vision of the EU project.
Tusk Labels UK Trade Proposal "Pure Illusion"

March 08, 2018

Politico reports that, during a recent press conference, European Council President Donald Tusk labeled Britain's negotiating position on a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU as "pure illusion," stating that an attempt to accept EU standards in some areas but not in others in exchange for market access is an unacceptable form of "cherry-picking."
EP Paper Seeks "Privileged" Market Access for UK

March 08, 2018

The Sun reports that a document produced by senior officials in the European Parliament (EP) calls for EU negotiators to offer the UK "privileged" access to the EU common market after Brexit in exchange for commitments from Britain to maintain EU standards and accept rulings from the Court of Justice of the EU.
EU Analysis Rejects May's Post-Brexit Vision

March 07, 2018

The Guardian reports that, according to leaked EU analysis of UK Prime Minister Theresa May's recent speech setting out her government's desired post-Brexit relationship with the EU, the speech presented an unworkable model of EU-UK cooperation that should be considered incompatible with the structure and aims of the supranational bloc.