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Brexit preparedness: EU completes preparations for possible “no-deal” scenario on 12 April

As it is increasingly likely that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union without a deal on 12 April, the European Commission has today completed its “no-deal” preparations. At the same time, it continues supporting administrations in their own preparations and urges all EU citizens and businesses to continue informing themselves about the consequences of a possible “no-deal” scenario and to complete their no-deal preparedness. This follows the European Council (Article 50) conclusions last week calling for work to...

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Brexit is Stress Testing the UK’s Unwritten Constitution

by John Bruton The underlying organising principle of the UK constitutional system has been that Parliament, not the monarch, and not people by referendum, is sovereign. This principle may not be contained in a written constitution, but it is longstanding. It was established in the seventeenth century by the outcome of the Civil War 1646/9, where Parliament defeated the monarch (Charles I) and his ministers, and by the Revolution of 1688 whereby Parliament deposed the legitimate monarch (James II). In contrast, in Ireland,...

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Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council meeting (Art. 50)

As you know, we devoted today's European Council meeting to Brexit. Prime Minister May repeated her requests, to extend the Article 50 period until the 30th of June, and to approve the so-called Strasbourg agreement. During the discussion among the EU27, the leaders approached these requests in a positive spirit. The European Council decided to approve the Strasbourg agreement. As regards the extension, our decisions envisage two scenarios: In the first scenario, that is, if the Withdrawal Agreement is passed by...

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Brexit: The plans in place to mitigate impact of no deal

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the effects will be felt by people and companies across Europe. The EU has adopted measures to mitigate the impact of a disorderly withdrawal. The EU has repeatedly stressed that it favours an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the Union. It concluded a withdrawal agreement with the UK to ensure the two parties can continue to collaborate on various issues to their mutual benefit, nevertheless the EU has adopted measures...

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Brexit: Quick Update

It was another dramatic day for British politics, and the big EU decision on whether to delay Brexit hasn't even happened. UK Prime Minister Theresa May gave a televised address pinning the Brexit-delay blame on members of Parliament and doubling down on her controversial, oft-maligned exit deal. She also ruled out a second referendum and said she wouldn't delay Brexit beyond June 30, the deadline she's pitching today in Brussels. Needless to say, British lawmakers were outraged and took to social media to...

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No-deal Brexit happens next week and no one knows if the EU will stop it

by Luke McGee, CNN Brexit is deep into its most crucial week since the last one. On Thursday, Theresa May travels to Brussels to meet with the remaining 27 EU leaders, where she is expected to request an extension to Article 50, the legal process by which Britain is leaving the EU. If the EU27 agree, as they probably will, Brexit will be delayed beyond the current deadline of March 29. Leaving aside the gravity of this epic failure of British Brexit policy, the...

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Antitrust: Commission fines Google €1.49 billion for abusive practices in online advertising

The European Commission has fined Google €1.49 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules. Google has abused its market dominance by imposing a number of restrictive clauses in contracts with third-party websites which prevented Google's rivals from placing their search adverts on these websites. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Today the Commission has fined Google €1.49 billion for illegal misuse of its dominant position in the market for the brokering of online search adverts. Google has cemented...

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Brexit: Council adopts a series of contingency measures for a “no-deal” scenario

Press Release 19-3-2019 The Council today adopted a series of legislative acts as part of its contingency preparations for a "no-deal" Brexit scenario. The aim of these acts is to limit the most severe damage caused by a disorderly Brexit in specific sectors where it would create a major disruption for citizens and businesses. They come on top of other measures, such as on citizens' rights, adopted by member states as part of their preparations for a "no-deal" scenario. These measures are...

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Parliament speaker rules out third vote on ‘same’ Brexit deal

By Charlie Cooper Theresa May's government cannot hold a third vote on its Brexit deal without securing a "demonstrable change" agreed with the EU, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow ruled, throwing the government's plans into further chaos. In an announcement that took MPs by surprise, Bercow said that according to parliamentary conventions dating as far back as 1604, the government could not hold repeated votes in the House of Commons, in the same parliamentary session, on a motion that...

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EU Industrial Policy After Siemens-Alstom: Finding a New Balance Between Openness and Protection

The ongoing technological revolution and China’s rise have sparked fears that Europe's industry risks falling behind, and that its unmatched openness is being used against its strategic interests. Amid calls for a more ambitious and strategic EU industrial policy, this paper explores a possible new balance between openness and protection as part of a joined-up strategy to create a more level global playing field, while shoring up industrial innovation and productivity at home. BEGIN REPORT: The European Commission’s decision of 6...

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