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The former Prime Minister stuttered through his answer when Sky News Sophy Ridge grilled him on his ambitions for the European Union and Labour Party reforms, which are now both dead in the water.

In their wide-ranging interview, Mr Blair covered his latest plans to thwart Brexit, his views on Jeremy Corbyns hard-left policy and his career as a politician.

But the arch Remoaner was left stumped when the journalist quizzed him on his failed ambition to have the UK at the forefront of the EU project.

Ridge said it had been unpicked, adding: Have you failed?

SKY NEWS

If Britain carries through Brexit, were going to diminish ourselves

Tony Blair

Mr Blair could only produce a nervous laugh in response as he formulated his answer.

I dont know whether so much Ive failed, he said. Has opinion moved against those two positions?

Im not sure about that, one of the things I think is important right now is to be aware enough to say, Look, politics has taken a turn in these last two or three years, and I didnt really anticipate.

For me, Im back almost like a student of politics Im studying and thinking about it, and trying to work it out.

But I think, if Britain carries through Brexit, if we really do this, were going to diminish ourselves.

Mr Blair also used his interview to claim he has held talks with key players in Brussels about how they could thwart Brexit.

He told Ridge he believes it absolutely necessary that Brexit doesnt happen because of the damage the divorce is doing the UK politically and economically

The former Prime Minister said: I think its possible now that Brexit doesnt happen.

AFP/Getty Images

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'It can be stopped, if the British people decide that having seen what it means, the pain-gain analysis doesnt stack up'

I think its absolutely necessary that it doesnt happen because every day is bringing us fresh evidence that its doing us damage economically, certainly doing us damage politically.

He even insisted that Brexiteers in Britain were changing their mind, with some even changing their mind about the split.

Mr Blair added: I think public opinion is moving on it. Look, this time last year we were the fastest growing economy in the G7, were now the slowest, our savings ratio is at the lowest for 50 years, the investment community internationally has gone really negative on us, our currency is down 10-12 per cent.

Investment in the motorcar industry, for example, is down 30 per cent. Living standards are stagnating.

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'Have you failed?' Blair left speechless after Ridge questions his European Union legacy - Express.co.uk

Monrovia - Last week, the Government of Liberia received a grant of EUR 10 million (USD 11.2 million) from the European Union (EU).

The EU disbursed the money directly into the treasury account of the Government to support the budget of the Republic of Liberia.

This is the third payment under the EU's budget support programme after a first payment of EUR 29.2 million (USD 33 million) in 2015 and EUR 16 million (USD 18 million) in 2016.

Disbursement of the third payment comes after the Government of Liberia made satisfactory progress in improving public financial management and toward specific targets relating to security and rule of law in line with the Agenda for Transformation, Liberias medium-term development strategy.

Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, said:

"The EU gives this 10 million euro expecting that the Government will use it to provide Liberians with the vital public services they deserve and it has committed to provide: health, education, security and rule of law. I encourage the Government to continue improving the management of public finances and fight against corruption.

In particular, I applaud the operationalisation of four pilot county treasuries, the establishment of a Civilian Complaints Board for the Police and immigration services and improved access to justice through magistrates' courts and county courts for cases related to sexual and gender based violence.

I encourage Government and the Judiciary to continue their efforts to better plan procurement for entities in the security and rule of law sector and to ensure that spending takes place as planned."

The European Union withheld EUR 2 million due to the Government of Liberia's failure or partial failure to meet indicators related to the timely publication of procurement plans for the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary and spending less money than planned through entities in the security and rule of law sector.

Background Information

The European Union's budget support programme for Liberia, known as a State-building Contract, was signed in May 2015.

It was initially intended to support reforms in the security and rule of law sector in the context of the drawdown of the UNMIL peace-keeping mission.

Due to the Ebola crisis, it was agreed with the Government of Liberia to modify the project so as to frontload much of the funds for the first payment in July 2015.

The State-building Contract has a total value of EUR 65 000 000 (USD 73 million) over three years. The EU contribution is allocated as follows:

EUR 62,000,000 General budget support;

EUR 2,690,000 EU contribution to Integrated Public Financial Management Reforms Programme, implemented through the World Bank;

EUR 300,000 Technical assistance to build capacities within the Ministry of Finance in the implementation of the State Building Contract, implemented by the Overseas Development Institute.

The current disbursement of EUR 10 million is made up of two parts - EUR 5 million is linked to four general conditions:

Payment of an additional EUR 5 million was triggered by the Government meeting the following performance indicators fully:

What is budget support?

Budget support is a way for donors to provide development assistance through a partner country's own budgetary processes.

It involves dialogue, financial transfers to the national treasury account of the partner country, performance assessment and capacity development, based on partnership and mutual accountability. Eligibility criteria have to be met before and during the programme and conditions need to be fulfilled before payments are made.

EU budget support involves the transfer of financial resources to the National Treasury of a partner country, provided the partner government has met the agreed conditions for payment.

Transfers are made in EURO to a Government account held at the Central Bank and then converted into local currency during transfer to the National Treasury Account.

Any transfer is always made after the agreed conditions for payment have been respected. Once this transfer has taken place, budget support funds are used in accordance with the partner countrys own public financial management (PFM) systems, and responsibility for the management of these transferred resources rests with the partner government.

Budget support is focused on development results and offers a platform for dialogue with the partner country (Government, national control bodies and civil society) on policies and their financing, objectives and results.

This is consistent with the aid effectiveness principles of ownership, transparency and accountability.

Originally posted here:
European Union Injects EUR10 Million into Liberia Budget - Front Page Africa

Wall Street Journal (subscription)

EU Set to Sanction Syria Scientists, Military Officers Over Chemical Attacks Wall Street Journal (subscription) BRUSSELSThe European Union is set to target 16 Syrian scientists and military officers in a new round of sanctions against the Assad regime on Monday, seeking to punish those responsible for chemical weapons attacks against civilians. The move is a ...

Originally posted here:
EU Set to Sanction Syria Scientists, Military Officers Over Chemical Attacks - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

"The majority of British people voted to leave the EU. The majority of MPs, including Blair's own Labour Party, voted to trigger Article 50," he said.

"By calling for the will of the people and Parliament to be overturned, Tony Blair is demonstrating once again that he is out of touch."

In his latest foray into the Brexit debate, the former prime minister said the election of French President Emmanuel Macron had opened up the prospect of real change in Brussels which could enable Britain to stay in the bloc.

Mr Blair said his contacts with senior European figures had convinced him the EU was ready to change and that the option of Britain remaining a member should be left on the table.

"This is a completely changed situation in Europe. I'm not going to disclose conversations I've had within Europe, but I'm not saying this literally on the basis of a whim," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Read more from the original source:
Tony Blair refuses to offer evidence for claim UK could stay in a reformed European Union - Telegraph.co.uk

The European Union and the Turkish National flag | Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Opinion

The accession process is the backbone of Ankaras relations with Brussels.

By Faruk Kaymakc

7/15/17, 12:36 PM CET

A recent survey told you everything you need to know about EU-Turkey relations: some 75.5 percent of the country said it would still like to join the European Union but only 36 percent think Turkey will ever be admitted.

Theres an obvious reason for the disparity: The EUs ambivalence toward Turkeys accession.

This is a pity. Turkey and the EU have much to offer each other. Ankara, officially a candidate since 1999, deems the accession negotiations the backbone of its relations with Brussels.

The negotiations provide a structured dialogue that enables the EU to engage with Turkey in a constructive manner. For Turkey, it is the driving force for reforms and further alignment with the values and regulations of the EU.

Unfortunately, the EU has lost its anchoring role vis--vis Turkey after it allowed some members to block 18 out of 35 chapters between 2006-2009 and thus let the accession negotiations fall prey to national interests. Its time for Brussels to put Turkey unambiguously back on the track of the accession process.

Opponents of Turkeys membership have always argued that the country is too big, too poor and too different (read too Muslim). But one could just as easily argue the opposite.

Turkeys size, population and global weight will be an asset for the EU, and its young and dynamic population could be the antidote to the EUs aging population.

As to being poor, Turkey has been growing rapidly. It is now Europes sixth largest economy and the 18th largest globally. According to recent forecasts, the country will become the worlds 12th largest economy by 2030, surpassing Italy and South Korea. And Ankara performs better than some EU members when it comes to meeting the Maastricht Criteria.

Finally, Turkeys predominantly Muslim population and secular state will contribute to the blocs cultural diversity, which in turn could help to alleviate the rise of Islamophobia, xenophobia, and radicalization across the EU. Moreover, the membership of a secular, Muslim country could facilitate the integration of Muslim Europeans into their respective societies, as well as increase the blocs ability to reach out to the Muslim world.

The failed coup attempt perpetrated by the Fetullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO) on July 15, 2016, disrupted the momentum that had been built following the November 29, 2015 Turkey-EU Summit.

The coup attempt, the bloodiest in the history of the Republic, targeted Turkish democracy, forced Turkey to declare astate of emergency and tarnished Turkeys image as well as disrupting Turkey-EU cooperation and the accession process.

After a period of difficult relations driven by the EUs slow and weak response to an attempted coup and heightened tensions ahead of a constitutional referendum which led to a crisis of confidence towards the EU in Turkey the months ahead hold plenty of potential for the reinvigoration of Turkey-EU relations.

Meetings on May 25 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan and the presidents of the European Council, Commission and Parliament reinforced the dedication to cooperate in Ankara and Brussels. And both sides have committed to work together to curb irregular migration, fight the scourge of terrorism, move toward visa liberalization, upgrade the 1996 Customs Union and keep the accession process alive.

These are fruitful areas of cooperation. Visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for Turkish citizens once Turkey fulfills the last remaining seven of the EUs 72 benchmarks will promote people-to-people contact, contribute to economic growth and increase cooperation in security, counterterrorism and management of irregular migration.

Improving the Customs Union and the expansion of its scope will expedite economic convergence and provide economic dynamism and benefits to both sides in an increasingly competitive global market.

Thanks to a deal between Turkey and the EU on the management of irregular migration, illegal and perilous crossings over the Aegean have dwindled down from 7,000 a day to double digits at most, and migrant deaths crossing that sea have been almost completely prevented. Accelerated funding to Syrian refugees in Turkey and the implementation of the Voluntary Humanitarian Readmission Scheme will increase the EUs credibility, as well as help share Turkeys heavy burden.

To be sure, Turkey will join the EU only after fully meeting membership criteria and when both sides agree to move forward with accession. But doing so will require the EU to commit to genuine engagement, through constructive criticism and honest dialogue despite the rise of populism, the growth of the extreme right, and the distractions of Brexit and weakening transatlantic ties.

Turkey is working to overcome the trauma of last years attempted coup, while hosting some 3.3 million refugees and fighting multiple terrorist organizations. And yet, Ankara is not asking for privileged treatment. It only expects to be treated on an equal footing with all the other candidates and for the EU to be a credible anchor.

Turkeys accession to the EU might be the most challenging of all processes, past and prospective. But it will be the most beneficial and most meaningful.This is why at this critical juncture, a constructive dialogue about accession is more important than ever.

Faruk Kaymakc is the Permanent Delegate of Turkey to the EU.

Originally posted here:
Turkey to the EU: Let's talk membership - POLITICO.eu