The United Kingdom will leave the European Union in 100 days' time. Given the continued uncertainty in the UK surrounding the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, as agreed between the EU and the UK on 25 November 2018 – and last week's call by the European Council (Article 50) to intensify preparedness work at all levels and for all outcomes – the European Commission has today started implementing its “no deal” Contingency Action Plan. This delivers on the Commission's commitment to adopt...

Read more

Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council meeting on 14 December 2018 Main results The European Council on 13-14 December 2018 focused on the EU's long-term budget, external relations, migration and the single market. EU27 leaders also discussed Brexit on Thursday and the euro area on Friday. European Council conclusions, 13-14/12/2018 European Council (Art. 50) conclusions, 13/12/2018 Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council and Eurosummit meetings, 14/12/2018 At the start of the meeting, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, representing the...

Read more

1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL • Reasons for and objectives of the proposal On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom notified the European Council pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union of its intention to withdraw from the European Union and from the European Atomic Energy Community. In accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the Union shall negotiate with the withdrawing State an agreement setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal (the Withdrawal Agreement), taking account of the framework...

Read more

EY today released Geopolitical update: Brexit and US-China relations, which explores how Brexit and the increasing complexity of US-China relations is affecting Chinese enterprises’ overseas investments. Investors from China should pay close attention to the latest policy developments and develop a geostrategy to manage the risks and identify the opportunities amid this growing uncertainty. Jon Shames, EY Global Geostrategic Business Group Leader, said: “While the world has moved into a new and unsettling geopolitical phase, Chinese businesses and investors cannot focus...

Read more

by John Bruton, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland The European Commission has produced a paper setting out the preparations that will have to make for a “No Deal “ Brexit, and what would have to done to deal with it. I have extracted some of the interesting quotations from it. It is quite explicit in some respects, but those who say there will be no hard border in Ireland in any circumstances will need to seek further...

Read more