As Brexit rages, the European project unravels before our eyes May 28, 2019 While the London foreign policy commentariat obsesses over the pathetic soap opera that is Brexit, it almost entirely misses the obvious and strategically vital point next door: the European project is in irretrievable decline, becoming increasingly peripheral to any serious global geopolitical discussion. The just-concluded European elections, which have underlined the rise of populism and [...]
France will not tolerate multiple extensions to Brexit deadline May 11, 2019 France will push against repeatedly extending the Brexit deadline, a top adviser said yesterday with one eye on 31 October when Britain is set to leave the EU. “We must not get sucked into repeated extensions, that’s for sure,” an unnamed presidential adviser told Reuters. “Our message is clear: a solution must have been found [...]
Angela Merkel calls for Brexit delay of ‘several months’ April 10, 2019 Angela Merkel has seemingly rejected Theresa May’s call for short delay to Brexit as she talked up an an extension of “several months”. The German chancellor told her country’s lower parliament that she hoped the EU would back a plan that would see the Article 50 process extended beyond 30 June – the date which [...]
Theresa May asks Angela Merkel for Brexit delay until 30 June in Berlin meeting April 9, 2019 Theresa May has asked Angela Merkel to delay Brexit until 30 June in a face-to-face meeting in Berlin. The Prime Minister made the request ahead of special summit in Brussels on Wednesday, where EU leaders will decide whether to once again extend the Article 50 negotiating period. The EU last month turned down a bid [...]
EU ministers say Britain needs ‘clear plan’ to be granted Brexit delay April 9, 2019 EU ministers arrived in Luxembourg this morning to try and thrash out a united stance on whether it should give the UK a Brexit extension ahead of tomorrow's summit. Read more: Brexit delay on the cards as Tories gear up for European elections Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said the EU should give Britain “more [...]
Brexit delay on the cards amid anger as Conservatives gear up for European elections April 8, 2019 A long delay to Brexit is looking increasingly likely as the Conservative and Labour leaderships are struggling to agree a compromise deal ahead of Wednesday’s EU summit. Brussels has given the UK until 10 April to set out a credible alternative negotiating plan after the repeated failure by Theresa May to get her deal through Parliament. [...]
Theresa May to travel to Paris and Berlin for critical Brexit talks April 8, 2019 Theresa May will head to Berlin and Paris on Tuesday in an eleventh hour bid to convince EU leaders to grant another delay to Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron just a day before a crunch Brexit summit in Brussels. The EU will use that [...]
Theresa May to head to Berlin to request short Brexit delay April 8, 2019 Theresa May will dash to Berlin tomorrow to persuade EU leaders to grant a short extension to Article 50 while the government still wrangles with how to progress with Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet German chancellor Angela Merkel tomorrow, a day before a crunch EU summit in which the bloc will consider whether to grant May's [...]
The European Union is on the backfoot, but few seem to notice April 2, 2019 There is a very bad habit that many of our broadcasters have of focusing on what might befall us. It reminds me of Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii bemoaning “woe is me, woe is me” – as if he might warn his master against leaving the Empire without a deal. It would be refreshing were there [...]
It’s make your mind up time for the UK over Huawei security saga March 28, 2019 It’s been a bad week for beleaguered Chinese tech giant Huawei. In an eagerly-anticipated report published today, UK spies concluded they can only provide “limited assurance” that the risks to national security from Huawei’s products have been mitigated. The findings are in line with last year’s report, but the lack of progress has raised eyebrows. One cyber [...]