Archive for the ‘European Union’ Category

French Election Highlights a Deep Divide on the European Union – teleSUR English


teleSUR English
French Election Highlights a Deep Divide on the European Union
teleSUR English
Whatever the outcome, Le Pen has shown that nationalist, anti-EU, and anti-globalisation sentiment now widespread across Europe has more traction in France than many had realised. A record number of French voters opted for anti-establishment, ...
Marine Le Pen is Madame Frexit; her victory would shake the European Union to its coreFirstpost
France Chooses a Leader, and Takes a Step Into the UnknownNew York Times
The French presidential election spells trouble for the EU -- whoever winsCNN
Wall Street Journal (subscription) -Washington Post
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French Election Highlights a Deep Divide on the European Union - teleSUR English

The Necessary Empire – New York Times


New York Times
The Necessary Empire
New York Times
The former Byzantine and Ottoman part of Europe the part closest to the Middle East is still the poorest, least stable and most in need of support and guidance from the European Union. Whether Europe remains a secure and prosperous continent, ...

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The Necessary Empire - New York Times

EU Leader Says (in English) That English Is Waning – New York Times


New York Times
EU Leader Says (in English) That English Is Waning
New York Times
All that doesn't stop many French speakers from resenting English's primacy, though, nor from hoping that the language might recede a bit after Britain leaves the European Union, the process known as Brexit. That is the sentiment that Mr. Juncker mined ...
Speech by Michel Barnier at the 7th State of the Union Conference, European University Institute, FlorenceEU News
Influence of English is fading, says EU chief JunckerReuters
UK Prime Minister Theresa May Hits Out at EU officials on BrexitWall Street Journal (subscription)
The Sun -Telegraph.co.uk -CNBC
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EU Leader Says (in English) That English Is Waning - New York Times

European Union set for ‘explosive’ political crisis if Britain doesn’t cough up billions for a divorce bill, chief … – The Sun

Michel Barniersaid yesterday programmes and schemes could have to be scrapped

THE EU is set for an explosive political crisis if Britain holds firm and refuses to pay a divorce bill, the blocs chief Brexit negotiator said yesterday.

Michel Barnier also has repeated claims that our exit from the bloc will not be quick or painless in a sign thatBrussels are DETERMINED to make us suffer.

And hewarned that there would be political and legal implications if Britain refuses to cough up the cash and that it was incontestable that we would have to pay.

Sky News

EPA

At a press conference in Brussels yesterday he told an audience that it was an illusion to think that things could be wrapped up quickly and that there would be explosive consequences if we didnt pay up.

The news came before Theresa May delivered a damning speech on the steps of Downing Street accusing Brussels chief of meddling in our election.

Mr Barnier was speaking as the EU Commission set out its detailed negotiating guidelines for the upcoming Brexit talks.

He described the bill as incontestable.

Imagine what would happen if this were not to take place, he said.

We have to be rigorous in our approach to clearing these accounts. Otherwise the situation might be explosive if we have to stop programmes. Can you imagine the political problems which might arise?

Brussels are seriously concerned about the cash they will lose when Britain leaves the bloc and there are rumours they will ask us to pay up to 100 billion euros to settle our bills.

But The Sun can reveal Mrs May is drawing up a nuclear option of immediately ending Britains 18bn annual Budget payments if Brexit talks breakdown.

AP:Associated Press

EPA

Mr Barnieralso fired a warning shot at MrsMay: Some have created the illusion that Brexit will have no material impact on our lives or that negotiations can be completed quickly and painlessly. This is not the case.

He said that EU leaders should remain cool-headed in the process, but accused the UK of causing months of uncertainty that needed to be eradicated.

And he stated that there WOULD be consequences for us as a result of leaving and that there was a legal process that had to be agreed to cover all the technical points of our exit.

David Davis yesterdayREFUSED to pay up to100 BILLION for a Brexit divorce bill.

The Brexit Secretary said this morning that the UK did not recognise the figure which is claims is just to settle the UKs part in promised money.

Mr Barnier insisted yesterdaythat the UK had material commitments and future projects it had agreed to fund already. Those commitments will have to be honoured, he said.

And after an audience with the Queen yesterday afternoon, Mrs May launched a scathing attack on EU chiefs.

In a moment of high drama, she slammed the former Luxembourg premier and other euro elite for deliberately timed threats and smears on her Tory government to try to influence the elections outcome.

AP:Associated Press

EPA

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Yesterday's comments were the latest in an escalating tensions between Britain and the EU.

Last week Mrs May hit back at Angela Merkel's description of our Brexit plans as an "illuion" as tensions continued to escalate.

The Prime Minister said the 27 nations were "lining up to oppose us" which would bring instability to the country.

Over the weekend EU sources leaked details of a dinner between EU chief Jean Claude Juncker and Mrs May in Downing Street where he said that Brexit "cannot be a success".

Mrs May insisted the UK does not owe the EU any money because there is nothing to that effect in the treaties - but Mr Juncker said she was "in another galaxy".

EPA

Mr Juncker said the UK would not get a trade deal then but Mrs May has repeatedly insisted leaving the EU with no deal would be better than taking a bad deal anyway.

The President of the European Commission reportedly then told Mrs May as he exited: "I leave Downing Street ten times as sceptical as I was before."

EPA

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European Union set for 'explosive' political crisis if Britain doesn't cough up billions for a divorce bill, chief ... - The Sun

EU Weighs Rules That Could Move Thousands of Jobs From London – Voice of America

LONDON

The European Union said Thursday that it's preparing new regulations that could force a key financial market and potentially thousands of jobs to move away from London once Britain leaves the bloc.

The EU Commission said it will present next month new rules on the oversight of this market, the so-called clearing of euro-denominated trades.

In financial markets, clearing is the business of acting as an intermediary in a trade to reduce the risks from defaults by ensuring funds are delivered to the seller. Some 75 percent of euro-denominated interest rate derivatives are cleared in the U.K. and tens of thousands of jobs depend on the business.

Some European authorities want this euro-clearing business to be located in a country in the EU, as the bloc is tightening its oversight of banks and financial services in the wake of the financial crisis.

When asked Thursday whether clearinghouses would be forced to leave the U.K. if they wanted to continue handling euro-denominated trades, Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU was "looking at this issue."

"Of course, in a context of Brexit we see that the situation is changing," Dombrovskis told reporters in Brussels. "The bulk of EU-denominated derivatives are cleared in the U.K., and therefore we need to assess what implications it has for financial stability."

While the commission did not specify what the new rules would be, it expressed concern that after Brexit a "substantial volume" of euro-denominated transactions would be cleared outside the EU, meaning they would not be subject to the bloc's regulations and supervision.

The commission said it wants to ensure clearinghouses are subject to the "safeguards provided by the EU legal framework" in areas where they play a key role in the stability of financial markets and monetary policy.

Talks on separation

The statement comes as the EU and Britain begin two years of complex negotiations over the separation of two economies that have been intertwined for more than 40 years. A German newspaper reported Sunday that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said British Prime Minister Theresa May was in a "different galaxy" in her expectations for Brexit. May yesterday accused EU officials of making "threats" to influence next month's general election in Britain.

Treasury chief Phillip Hammond said Britain would consider any proposed clearing regulations but that the EU must be careful not to disrupt growth and investment in the U.K. and Europe.

"London is the world's No. 1 financial center, with high standards of financial supervision, including long-standing cooperation with EU institutions," Hammond said. "This benefits the entire continent. We trust everyone in the negotiations will see the value in not undermining that."

TheCityUK, which lobbies on behalf of Britain's financial services industry, was more blunt.

"A forced relocation of euro-clearing would lead to disruption, uncertainty and fragmentation of the market," Chief Executive Miles Celic said in a statement. "A potentially less liquid and less competitive EU market would result in higher costs for European savers and investors. This would ultimately be detrimental to people and businesses in Britain and in Europe. This is in no one's interest and is entirely avoidable."

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EU Weighs Rules That Could Move Thousands of Jobs From London - Voice of America