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At last there is a bit of good news for those of us who view Brexit as a massive disaster in the making. No, if readers will forgive the double negative, I am not referring to the recent election result, although that was not unhelpful. But rather to what President Macron told Theresa May in Paris on Tuesday afternoon that the possibility of the UK remaining in the European Union is an option until Brexit negotiations have been concluded.

Adding to the significance of this statement was the fact that the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schuble said much the same thing on the same afternoon. Referring to the British, he observed: If they want to change their decision, of course they would find open doors, but I think its not very likely.He was speaking to Bloomberg Television.

What this means is that we can stop the process immediately if we so wish.This is a big surprise. For instance the well-informed commentator on the Financial Times, Martin Wolf, wrote just before the announcements that unfortunately, it might be difficult for the UK to withdraw its application to leave.Now it turns out that it would not be difficult at all.

Given the strong Franco-German relationship on European matters, this looks like a deliberately coordinated initiative taken in response to the British election result. The two leaders had jointly decided to leave the door slightly ajar.

However, for the time being, we Remainers will have to keep this possibility in the back of our minds. For there is as yet scarcely any sign that British voters want to exercise this option. After all, over 80 per cent of voters have just supported the two parties, Conservative and Labour, which intend to take Britain out of the European Union. And according to a CNN/ComRes poll taken six months after the referendum, some 47 per cent of British voters said they would vote Leave, with 45 per cent saying they would choose to Remain.

Yet only a quarter of them (24 per cent) said they thought they would be personally better off financially as a result of Brexit. By contrast, nearly half (44 per cent) said they personally expected to be worse off financially. The other third (32 per cent) of respondents said they didnt know.

Now this stance of voting according to your heart rather than your wallet is about to be challenged. For economic conditions are deteriorating largely as a consequence of the Brexit decision that has weakened the exchange rate between pounds and euros.

Yesterday, the most recent figures for prices and wages were published and they showed the biggest decline in real wages since August 2014. In the three months to April, average wages grew by just 2.1 per cent compared with prices rising by 2.7 per cent in that period. And this supports what the vast majority of economists expect.The decision to leave the EU will hit growth in the medium to longer term. And even more miserably, it turns out that between 2007 and 2015 the UK had the worst real wages performance of any advanced economy except Greece.

Theresa May should admit result is a rejection of hard Brexit, says EU negotiator

We can assume, too, that as the Brexit talks wind on, Britains economic performance will continue to deteriorate, not just because the pound will remain weak to the detriment of peoples spending power, but because business managers will postpone decisions to invest in expansion until the terms of any exit from the European Union are known.

Nonetheless I must be frank and state that, unfortunately, I dont believe that any of this is going to affect support for Brexit, counter intuitive though that may be. The Leavers took an emotional decision rather than one of calculation.

However there is one more factor that will determine whether the door left ajar by the French and German leaders will be pushed open in time the attitude of the young voters.

They are mostly Remainers rather than Leavers. In addition the recent general election has taught us that they are much more likely to vote than was formally the case. Thus if any group of electors were to feel inclined to heed the gesture of the French and German leaders, it is the 18 to 40 year olds. It may not be too much of an exaggeration to say that the future of our country is in their hands.

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Macron may say that the UK can stay in the EU, but Brexiteers will make sure that never happens - The Independent

These projects will increase the impact of the European Union and help to achieve our objectives across a number of policy areas, in particular in climate action and clean energy, as well as migration management and trade.

Energy, climate change and sustainable urbanisation

The European Union has recently reiterated its full commitment to implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate action, and therefore to the promotion of secure, affordable, climate-friendly and sustainable energy sources. This is not only something that the European Union is looking to achieve in our Member States, but is also a priority for us beyond our borders. At the core of this year's Partnership Instrument is a focus on sustainable energy, access to clean energy, energy efficiency and the transition towards low carbon economies. Such a transition continues to boost economic growth and to create jobs in Europe, therefore showing how international climate and energy policy and sustainable economic development can be mutually reinforcing. As a global leader in the field of climate action, the European Union will work with key partners to implement the Paris agreement and to address climate change, and under the AAP 2017 will implement projects in China (3.5 million), India (3.85 million) and Argentina (4.5 million).

Biodiversity and green diplomacy

Environmental degradation has the potential to cause and exacerbate conflict. In line with the EU Global Strategy, the European Union is therefore investing to enhance environmental resilience in its partner countries. The AAP 2017 will focus on protecting biodiversity in Asia and Latin America and on strengthening the EU's voice and position in multilateral fora (G7, G20) as an interlocutor that can shape environmental rules in accordance with EU standards.

Responsible business and decent work

The Partnership Instrument will underpin the work of the European Union in fighting inequality, promoting responsible business and championing decent work opportunities, notably for women and young people. With a particular focus on Latin America and working with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the AAP 2017 supports actions that seek to promote adherence to international standards on the environment and working conditions, as well as actions that promote the economic empowerment of women.

Migration management and mobility

The Partnership Instrument contributes to the European Union's efforts to address migration as a global challenge, in line with the EU's Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM), which is the overarching framework of the EU's external migration and asylum policy. Following previous years' actions in China and Brazil, in 2017 the Partnership Instrument will support policy dialogue and cooperation on migration and mobility with India with a 3 million project, building on the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility.

Transparency and accountability of EU trade agreements

The increased participation of civil society in trade policy-making processes would help to make sure that the implementation of trade agreements takes place with enhanced transparency and accountability. The European Union is fully committed to these objectives and is looking to develop ways of ensuring that international best practice in this respect becomes the norm in Europe. As part of this process, the Partnership Instrument is dedicating 3 million in 2017 to support the genuine engagement of civil society, from both Europe and partner countries, in the implementation of EU Trade Agreements, therefore promoting and defending internationally-agreed standards and values.

Raising the profile of the EU through public and cultural diplomacy

Engagement with a wide variety of State and non-State actors is essential if the European Union is to promote its core values and to explain its purpose and potential. Public and cultural diplomacy actions under the AAP 2017 will build on a number of initiatives in this area over the past years, aiming to foster trust among stakeholders and to reinforce the EU's soft power through people-to-people engagement. Among some of the actions foreseen under the 12.4 million allocation are to facilitate the organisation of European Film Festivals across the world and enhance the engagement with the community of Alumni of several European programmes in third countries. The EU will also co-fund, with the United States, the Schuman-Fulbright Scholarships Programme ( 1.05 million), which deepens research on EU-US relations.

TheEU's Partnership Instrument helps to enhance the EU's strategic political partnerships by fostering relationships and supporting policy priorities, in line with the EU Global Strategy. The Partnership Instrument AAP 2017 is available at the following link.

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EU boosts cooperation with key international partners to support its foreign policy objectives - EU News

As of tomorrow, 15 June 2017, roaming charges in the European Union will no longer apply. President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat, on behalf of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, issued the following statement:

"The European Union is about bringing people together and making their lives easier. The end of roaming charges is a true European success story.

From now on, citizens who travel within the EU will be able to call, text and connect on their mobile devices at the same price as they pay at home. Eliminating roaming charges is one of the greatest and most tangible successes of the EU.

Over the last 10 years, our institutions have been working hard together to fix this market failure. Each time a European citizen crossed an EU border, be it for holidays, work, studies or just for a day, they had to worry about using their mobile phones and a high phone bill from the roaming charges when they came home. Roaming charges will now be a thing of the past. As of tomorrow, you will be able to remain connected while travelling in the EU, for the same price as at home.

It has been a long time coming, with many actors involved. By working closely together, the European Union has delivered a concrete, positive result for European citizens. We are proud that the EU has put an end to very high roaming prices and thankful to those who showed the determination to overcome the many challenges and pursue this goal.

At the same time, the EU has managed to find the right balance between the end of roaming charges and the need to keep domestic mobile packages competitive and attractive. Operators have had 2 years to prepare for the end of roaming charges, and we are confident that they will seize the opportunities the new rules bring to the benefit of their customers.

The end of roaming charges is at the foundation of the EU's Digital Single Market and is another step towards building a united and sustainable European digital society, accessible for all our citizens."

For More Information

Frequent questions and answers

General factsheet on the end of roaming charges

Detailed factsheet: How does it work?

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End of roaming charges in the EU: Joint statement by 3 EU institutions - EU News

India has announced a number of new diplomatic appointments in its missions abroad, including envoys to the European Union, Italy and Denmark.

Gaitri Issar Kumar, joint secretary in the Presidents Secretariat and a 1986 batch IFS officer, was on Tuesday named as Indias Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union which has its headquarters in the Belgian capital of Brussels.

The appointment assumes significance given Indias ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU which has been hanging fire after 16 rounds of negotiations.

Reenat Sandhu was on Tuesday named as Indias new Ambassador to Italy. The 1989 batch IFS officer replaces Anil Wadhwa, who retired this year.

Ajit Vinayak Gupte, joint secretary in the external affairs ministry, has been named Indias Ambassador to Denmark. The 1991 batch IFS officer will take over from Rajeev Shahare.

Earlier this month, Ruchira Kamboj, who served as Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, was named Indias new High Commissioner to South Africa.

Pram Jit Mann, who was Indias envoy to the Slovak Republic, was earlier named the Ambassador to Slovenia.

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Govt announces Indian envoys to European Union, Italy, Denmark - Hindustan Times

Tue., June 13, 2017, 8:01 a.m.

Two girls play with a doll near their shelter at a beach outside Souda refugee camp, Chios island, Greece, on Friday, June 9, 2017. About 2000 refugees and other migrants are in Chios and more than 62000 are stuck in Greece. (Petros Giannakouris / Associated Press)

BRUSSELS The European Union warned the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland on Tuesday that they have 24 hours to start taking in refugees under an EU sharing plan or face legal action.

The European Commission said in a statement that it has repeatedly urged the three countries to relocate refugees or at least pledge to do so under the legally-binding refugee plan agreed two years ago.

But it said they havent taken action in breach of their legal obligations, and that it has decided to launch infringement procedures.

The plan to share 160,000 refugees in overwhelmed Italy and Greece among other European countries over two years was endorsed in September 2015 by a qualified majority vote.

But just three months before the September 2017 deadline, fewer than 21,000 people have been relocated.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia voted against it. Hungary and Slovakia had previously launched their own legal action against the scheme.

EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have until Wednesday to change their minds.

There is still time ahead. Lets hope that not only reason but also the European spirit will prevail, Avramopoulos told reporters, lamenting that the three have not done anything for more than one year.

But Poland said it stands ready to take legal action of its own.

Poland is ready to defend its standpoint before the Court of Justice, Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski said Tuesday.

He warned that the commissions action may deepen the divisions within the EU.

Avramopoulos praised Austria and Slovakia for recently pledging to do more. But as of June 9, Austria had still not relocated a single refugee. Slovakia had taken in 16.

The refugee scheme was seen as a major plank of the EUs migration policy, and was lauded as a pan-European show of solidarity in 2015 when more than a million people arrived in Europe seeking sanctuary or jobs.

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European Union to launch action against 3 countries over refugee plan - The Spokesman-Review