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By: Reuters | Milan | Published:August 22, 2017 2:39 pm It is not a form of protectionism but rather giving a chance of monitoring operations that are incompatible with European rules, Italian Industry Minister Carlo Calenda was quoted as saying in La Stampa. (Representative Image)

Italy, France and Germany have asked the European Commission to reinforce existing regulations that allow EU states to block foreign acquisitions of European companies, two Italian dailies reported on Tuesday. The request cited the golden powers to bar or set conditions for would-be buyers that operate with rules that do not follow the market and that do not respect rules of reciprocity for acquisitions, Il Sole 24 Ore and La Stampa reported, citing a leaked letter. European Union leaders agreed in June to consider screening investments by state-owned Chinese firms, and France, Germany and Italy have backed the idea of allowing the EU to block Chinese investments.

The letter was sent to the Commission on July 28 and follows a similar one in February. Although it mentions no countries or firms by name, it appears to have been motivated by recent takeovers by Beijing in Europe. The powers would be reinforced for all target companies viewed as strategic and in cases of takeovers financed by state funds or agencies, says the ten-page document cited by the newspapers.

It is not a form of protectionism but rather giving a chance of monitoring operations that are incompatible with European rules, Italian Industry Minister Carlo Calenda was quoted as saying in La Stampa.

The three countries recommended that under the new regulations, which should not replace national rules, member states should notify the Commission every six months of all corporate investments from outside the bloc, except those in the defence sector.

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Italy, France and Germany ask European Union to boost powers to block foreign acquisitions: Reports - The Indian Express

In the run-up to the referendum on European Union membership the three-million-jobs-at-risk claim that was central to the economic case for staying in. Nick Cleggs formula in a Daily Telegraph story of 11 January 2013 was typical and almost apocalyptic in tone. In his words, three million jobs were dependent on our position as a leading member of the worlds biggest borderless single market, you play with that status at your peril; there are jobs at stake, livelihoods. He warned that leaving the EU meant isolation, and that isolation costs jobs, costs growth, costs peoples livelihoods.

Forecasts of an early recession and heavy job losses were certainly part of Project Fear, both ahead of and in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum on 23 June 2016. The doom-mongering was as much about what would happen just after a majority vote to leave as it was about the sequel to Brexit proper....

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The British economy has exposed how terrible the pro-EU side's Project Fear really was - Telegraph.co.uk

Speaking to Bloomberg, Mr Varadkar said the United Kingdom had yet to clarify its position on the future trade relation it seeks from the EU.

The Taoiseach said he was convinced that the current trade agreement the United Kingdom has with the Europen Union is "the best imaginable."

He said: "Where we are confused and puzzled is [on] what trade agreement does the United Kingdom want with the European Union.

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"At the moment they have the best trade deal possible, the best one imaginable which is a customs union and access to the single European market and the European Economic Area."

Yesterday, Brexit Secretary David Davis presented the second of the Brexit papers produced by the Government to explain its plans for the trade negotiations.

According to the Irish PM the proposals were not "realistic."

He commented: "What they seem to be suggesting all along, really for the last 14 months now, is that they want to have all the advantages of being in the EU, but none of the responsibilities and costs.

"That's not a realistic position so we're waiting to see what they'd like to see.

"It's not yet clear to us what are these better deals that the British Government really wants Europe and other countries and I think some clarity in that area would be very helpful."

Mr Varadkar said Dublin remained doubtful over the success of alternative trade agreements with third-party countries outside of the EU.

He stated: "When Britain leaves the European Union it's not only leaving the European Union. It's also leaving all those agreements that Europe has made with countries like Canada, with Japan or South Korea."

Trade Secretary Liam Fox visited the US to start talks for a future trade agreement.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond also engaged in early stage trade talks with Australia and Argentina respectively.

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'They have the best deal now!' Irish PM lashes out at UNREALISTIC UK Brexit trade plans - Express.co.uk

The MP for Derby North blasted the European Union's "neoliberal ideology" for having forced the UK to outsource public-sector organisations to the private sector.

RT presenter Sam Delaney was surprised by the politician's statement, asking him: "Secretly you already did hate the EU, didn't you? You see it as a capitalist boysclub."

He strongly agreed with the assertion, saying: "It is, it is.

"Let's not forget that there was this presumption inside the European Union, because the neoliberal ideology does kind of hold sway across the European Union, for public-sector organisations to be externalised to the private sector.

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"We gotta move away from that, we gotta move towards a society that works for everybody, that works for the 99%."

In the run-up to the Brexit referendum, the Labour Party campaigned to remain inside the European Union.

But according to Mr. Williamson, the party will now take the chance to use Brexit to promote some key pledges of its electoral manifesto.

Discussing the elections of 2022, the politician said: "What will play, I think, is what we were putting forward at the last general election.

"De-privatising the National Health Service and our public sectororganisationswhich have been used as a cash cow for the private sector. "

Mr. Williamson's comment comes after months of uncertainty within the Labour Party over its MPs stance on Brexit.

He said: "On the balance, you gotta accept the democratic will of the public when they voted."

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's distaste for the European Union has spanned several decades and but he repeatedly confirmed his party will work to deliver Brexit to the British public.

Ray Bassett, the former ambassador to Jamaica, Canada and the Bahamas, told Express.co.uk that Mr Corbyn was "massively" helping the Government on Brexit.

He said: "He's a backstop. Under Labour, they may quibble on detail but he has accepted the result on the referendum.

"I think Corbyn has been a plus for Theresa May saying he won't argue. He's [Theresa May's] saviour, along with the DUP>"

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UK needs out of EU's 'capitalist BOYS CLUB' to respect will of the people, says Labour MP - Express.co.uk

David Davis has warned EU chiefs "the clock ticking" in Brexit negotiations in a bid to pushtalks towards discussions on a future trade deal.

The Brexit Secretary will publish five position papers further setting out Britain's negotiating strategy this week in an attempt to speed up the talks.

Brussels stated at the start of negotiations that discussionswould take place in two stages, with the first phase concentrating on the UKs withdrawal and the second on a new trade deal.

But Mr Davis is expected to approach EU chiefs and argue the talks should take place in parallel.

A key document is expected on the Government's favoured approaches to enforcing rights outside the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Disagreement over the ECJ's role was a major sticking point during July's round of talks, with the UK aghast at Brussels' insistence that EU citizens' rights should be enforced by the court after Brexit.

Next week's paper will set out different possible approaches to end the "direct jurisdiction" of the ECJ but still enforce individuals' and businesses' rights after Brexit.

Big Ben should bong Britain out of EU, Brexit-backing MPs say

But first, a document on goods will emphasise the Government is seeking a deal to ensure the freest and most friction-less trade possible in goods and services.

At present, the EU's position is that only goods should be discussed in "phase one" of the negotiations, in which "sufficient progress" must be made before talks on a future trade deal can begin.

But Britain believes the goods and services sectors are impossible to separate and so wants to discuss them together.

Mr Davis said: "With the clock ticking, it wouldn't be in either of our interests to run aspects of the negotiations twice."

David Davis

Reuters

Michel Barnier

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Tim Barrow

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Oliver Robbins

Sabine Weyand

Didier Seeuws

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He went on: "This week we set out more detail of the future relationship we want with the European Union, putting forward imaginative and creative solutions to build a deep and special partnership with our closest neighbours and allies.

"In the coming days we will demonstrate our thinking even further, with five new papers - all part of our work to drive the talks forward, and make sure we can show beyond doubt that we have made sufficient progress on withdrawal issues by October so that we can move on to discuss our future relationship."

Another position paper on confidentiality will make clear the Government's intentions on ensuring official documents and information exchanged between the UK, EU and other member states remain protected after Brexit.

A document will also be published on civil judicial co-operation to reassure the domestic legal sector and with an eye on August's talks.

And a paper on data will seek to ensure that it continues to be passed between the UK and EU without disruption.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Davis said some early discussion of the future trading relationship would help progress on the Irish border, a key issue in phase one of withdrawal talks.

"It is simply not possible to reach a near final agreement on the border issue until we've begun to talk about how our broader future customs arrangement will work," he said.

"Furthermore, if we get the comprehensive free trade agreement we're seeking as part of our future partnership, solutions in Northern Ireland are easier to deliver."

Meanwhile, Sir Paul Jenkins, who was the Government's most senior legal official for eight years until 2014, said Britain would have to replicate EU rules and submit to the ECJ "in all but name" if it wants to remove the need for hard borders.

Last week the Government published a paper setting out its wish for close customs arrangements with the EU and no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

"If the UK is to be part of something close enough to a customs union or the single market to remove the need for hard borders, it will only work if the rules are identical to the EU's own internal rules," Sir Paul told the Observer.

"Not only must they be the same but there must be consistent policing of those rules. If Theresa May's red line means we cannot be tied to the ECJ, the Brexit treaty will need to provide a parallel policing system.

"That may be a new court but, in reality, any new court will have to follow what the ECJ says about the EU's own rules, otherwise the new system won't work. So, never mind Theresa May's foolish red line; we will have the ECJ in all but name."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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David Davis: Trade talks with European Union must begin with 'clock ticking' over Brexit - Evening Standard