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On June 23, 2016, the residents of the United Kingdom (UK) shocked the world by voting for the countrys exit from the European Union (EU), or Brexit. On March 29, almost nine months after the historic referendum, the countrys Prime Minister, Theresa May, began the official separation process with a letter to EU President Donald Tusk. It urged the remaining member states to allow the UK to leave in a fair and orderly manner, and with as little disruption as possible on each side.

The six-page document that outlines some of the countrys hopes and requirements during and after the separation, invoked Article 50 of the EU Agreement, which states: Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. Officials from both sides will spend the next two years hashing out the details of this unprecedented break from the EU. The issues will range from imposing trade tariffs to migration policies, as well as deciding on new regulations to govern automobiles, agriculture, etc.

Both sides have a lot at stake as they begin the arduous process of unraveling the four-decade-long relationship. The UK, currently the worlds fifth-largest economy, has to tread carefully not to lose ground with its biggest trading partner. The EU, on the other hand, has to ensure that Britain does not get a better deal than it currently has. Thats because if the new treaty is even perceived as more favorable, other European nations will start to consider leaving the Union as well. Tusk has made it clear that the EU Councils priority, as it goes through the discussions, is to uphold the interests of the Unions remaining 440 million citizens.

The UKs negotiating power could also be weakened because a majority of Scotland and Northern Ireland, two of the four nations that make up the country, did not vote for Brexit. The residents are, therefore, unhappy with the current situation. On March 28, the Scottish Parliament authorized the Scottish Government to hold a referendum on the nations independence from the UK. The vote is scheduled to take place sometime between late 2018 and early 2019 after the Scottish people have some clarity on the consequences of the separation from the EU. Meanwhile, Irish nationalists are using Brexit as an excuse to rekindle their decades-long fight to make Ireland an independent nation.

There is going to be much uncertainty as the UK officials and members of the EU Council navigate through this uncharted territory over the next two years. However, both sides have promised to make the process as painless as possible for the residents. Hopefully, they will keep their word.

Resources: CNN.com, Guardian.co.uk, Wikipedia.org, The Verge.com

Excerpt from:
United Kingdom Begins Formal Process To Exit The European Union - DOGOnews

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that the United Kingdom (UK) has expressed interest to pursue a regional trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), weeks after the European Union (EU) expressed intent to do the same.

Lopez told the Inquirer that UKs International Trade Secretary Liam Fox announced that they would like to have a free trade agreement with the Asean after Brexit, noting that the UK was not allowed to make any trade negotiations while its divorce from EU was ongoing.

Fox visited the Philippines last April 3 to 4, making the country the first Asean member that the cabinet official visited after UK formally notified EU of its plan to leave the economic bloc. Lopez said he was informed about this intent during the visit in his position as this years Asean chair.

UK said it can explore with Asean FTA as they Brexit, Lopez said in a text message yesterday.

He said that a regional trade deal would be more efficient to pursue because that would mean an FTA with 10 countries instead of one at a time.

UK and the EU, which will one day be divorced from each other, seem to have their eyes set on the Asean market, which has a combined economy of $2.6 trillion and a market of 600 million people.

In March, the Asean Economic Ministers, together with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrm, announced that they would eventually go back to the negotiating table for a regional trade deal, years after the initiative was dropped to focus on bilateral FTAs.

It would still take time for details to be fleshed out of the regional deals, with EU and Asean in the midst of crafting the framework of the agreement while it would take at least two years for UK to leave the European bloc.

Prior to this, British Ambassador to Manila Asif A. Ahmad said that the UK was interested in having an FTA with the Philippines after Brexit. He said they would adopt the terms of the EU-PH FTA, should it be completed during the two-year period.

However, Lopez suggested that the bilateral trade deal between UK and the Philippines might have to be dropped since the Philippines would still be engaged in the proposed UK deal via the Asean.

Continued here:
UK eyes trade agreement with Asean after it leaves European Union - Inquirer.net

GETTY

At a plenary sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg MEPs gave give their final approval to a visa waiver for people from Russia-bordering sovereign state.

Passport holders from the country will now have up to three months visa-fee travel rights across European member states.

The legislation was approved by 521 votes to 75 with 36 abstentions

The measure is likely to come into effect in June, after it is formally adopted by the Council of Ministers.

The text was already informally agreed with the Council so no speeches were given.

The privileged travel arrangement will regulate short tourist and business visas, but will not grant Ukrainians additional access to jobs in the EU, which will still require works permits.

The deadline for fulfilling President Petro Poroshenkos election promise had been pushed back a number of times, frustrating Ukrainian voters.

Mr Poroshenkos approval rating only just stands in double digits, with the countrys economic struggles, rampant corruption and austerity measures adding pressure on his government.

The president was at a security forum in Kiev when he received news of the vote.

He said: I congratulate everyone who contributed to it! And all Ukrainians, as he shook hands with his former Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyk, and as well as his successor Vladimir Groysman.

GETTY

Ukraine has a population of 45million people, and all those with a biometric passport, or new passport containing a digital chip, will be allowed visa-free travel.

Not all Ukrainians have biometric passports.

Ukrainian officials began accepting applications in 2015, receiving more than 65,000 in the first month.

AFP/Getty Images

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Ukrainian police experts look for evidence next to the body of former Russian MP Denis Voronenkov after he was shot dead on March 23, 2017 in the center of Kiev

This time the decision will not apply to the UK and Ireland.

There were fears allowing visa-free travel will lead to an influx of refugees following Russias invasion of southeastern Ukraine.

In 2016 Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydo sad 1m migrants from the nation - but she was later accused of exaggeration.

The vote today follows the approval of new EU emergency powers to suspend visa-free travel rights last December, to avoid such a situation.

If there is a large increase in asylum requests, the new powers allow either the Commission or a majority of EU states to suspend a countrys visa exemptions.

The crisis in Ukraine began in November 2013 when pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych's government abandoned a deal with the European Union in favour of stronger ties with Russia.

But pro-European protesters broke out and took to the streets, occupying Government buildings.

President Yanukovych was removed from power after 88 people were killed in two days in Kiev.

Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in March of 2014 causing deep anger among its people.

Fighting between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 9,600 people in eastern Ukraine since it began in 2014.

Rapporteur for the proposal Mariya Gabriel said: Ukraine has achieved all the benchmarks, so the visa requirement should be lifted.

She also said the decision sends another very strong message that Ukraine is a key partner for the European Union in the Eastern Partnership.

See the article here:
Ukraine's passport website crashes after EU votes for visa-free travel - Express.co.uk

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Apr 6, CMC The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) hailed its ongoing relationship with the European Union (EU) and that it was looking forward to building on such a relationship.

Guyanas President David Granger, who is also the current CARICOM Chairman, told a ceremony marking the 60thanniversary of the treaty establishing the European Economic Community (ECC) on Wednesday night, that the goals of his country as well as the region were international peace and economic integration.

He said these goals were shared by the European Union, and were the basis upon which the signing of the Treaty of Rome, occurred 60 years ago.

The Caribbean today, like Europe 60 years ago, yearns for peace. The Caribbean seeks international peace, which is characterised by a dignified and secure life for our peoples. It seeks economic progress, which is undergirded by special consideration to the needs and vulnerabilities of small-island developing and low-lying coastal states such as Guyana, Granger said.

He said the goals were also the foundation that have resulted in Caribbean being part of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), entering into mutually beneficial, preferential agreements with Europe.

The Caribbean, as party to successive Lom conventions and signatories to the Cotonou Agreement, looks forward to building on four decades of ACP-EU relations, he said.

The 79-member ACP Group and European countries have been in a comprehensive and structured partnership since 1975 and the current 20-year Cotonou Treaty, which covers trade, development cooperation and political dialogue between the two parties, ends in 2020.

The ACP Group has already indicated that it intends to speak with one voice when it negotiates a major partnership framework with the European Union.

Granger told the ceremony that it was the Treaty of Rome that inaugurated a programme of economic integration, which allowed the European Union to become a formidable economic community, accounting for 20 per cent of global exports and with over 62 percent of its trade being intra-regional.

The Treaty of Rome was inspired by the philosophy of promoting peace through economic integration. Two World Wars in the first half of the twentieth century had taken a terrible toll on Europe.

The scars of the Second World War were still visible in 1957, 12 years after it had ended. The Treaty of Rome was signed by six states, which were encouraged by the experience of the European Coal and Steel Community signed, six years earlier. They were convinced that peace and economic progress could be secured best through deeper economic integration, Granger said.

He said that the treaty served as part of the post-war era of economic integration, preceding the establishment of the Latin America Free Trade Association (1960), Central American Common Market (1960), the Caribbean Free Trade Association (1965), and the Caribbean Community (1973).

Economic integration was increasing its impetus and impact in other parts of the world. Europe was not alone. The Treaty of Rome has bequeathed a legacy of sustained peace over the past 60 years. The vision of the Treatys architects has been vindicated, Granger said.

The EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtic said that the founding members signed the treaty having been inspired by a dream of a peaceful, common future of European integration.

He said that discussions on ACP-EU relations beyond 2020 are ongoing, and that these discussions must take place in a transparent manner, in an atmosphere of partnership and cooperation.

It is of course of major importance to Guyana and other Caribbean countries that these discussions proceed, especially in view of the challenges facing the region and indeed the wider world, Ambassador Videtic said, pledging that the European Union will continue to be a strong and constant partner of Guyana and the Caribbean Community.

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CARICOM hails relationship with European Union - Antigua Observer

Updated April 07, 2017 08:26:53

The Federal Government hopes to begin negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union in the second half of this year, after finalising a key step needed to begin talks.

Trade Minister Steven Ciobo has finished a scoping study that sets out the boundaries for future talks.

"The EU is our second-largest trading partner, it's worth roughly $95.6 billion and putting this FTA in place will be crucial driver of the Australian economy into the future, and of generating more jobs in Australia," he told AM.

Mr Ciobo will now seek a mandate from Cabinet to begin formal negotiations for the FTA, but he would not put a timeframe on the conclusion of the talks.

"The Europeans of course need to do the same thing through their system, and their system can sometimes take a little longer than the Australian system, and that's understandable given the number of countries involved," he said.

"But I'm very confident that we've got a great starting point for comprehensive negotiations."

The EU is the largest source of foreign investment in Australia.

The minister would not be drawn on which specific industries stood to benefit the most, but he said the potential for the Australian economy was significant.

"One example I often make reference to is the fact that Australia imports more agricultural products from Europe us with a population of 23 or 24 million than the Europeans do from Australia with their population," Mr Ciobo said.

The Federal Opposition welcomed news that the scoping study was complete, but said it was long overdue.

"It's good, it's about time, but like a lot of things that the Government's doing in trade, it's way behind schedule," Labor's trade spokesman Jason Clare told AM.

"They promised that they'd be negotiating this deal with Europe by now and they still haven't started."

The minister rejected the criticism.

"Well we're perfectly on schedule, the fact is we've got this scoping study in place, and I don't take much trade advice from the Australian Labor Party," he said.

"They don't know if they want bilaterals or multilaterals and frankly they didn't start and conclude any FTAs when they were last in government."

Mr Clare said Labor supported the pursuit of both bilateral agreements with countries like Indonesia, and a multilateral regional economic partnership, known as RCEP.

"That includes, China, India, Japan, South Korea, all the ASEAN nations and Australia and New Zealand, and there's a possibility that that agreement could be signed later this year," he said.

"We need to make sure that Australia is part of it, and that the Turnbull Government signs Australia up to a good agreement that creates jobs for Australian workers."

The Government's pursuit of free trade agreements is part of its agenda to improve Australia's international competitiveness.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull used a speech to the Sydney Institute last night to warn that Australia could not afford to stand still in a rapidly changing global environment.

"If we don't act now, we will be left behind, not only will we miss out on investment, Australian jobs will go offshore, our living standards will stagnate."

Mr Turnbull again sought to make the case for the Government's full 10-year plan to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent for all businesses.

"Just five days ago the United Kingdom cut its corporate tax rate to 19 per cent, and it will cut it to 17 per cent by 2020. [United States President Donald] Trump is talking about a 15 per cent tax rate," he said.

"But imagine if they only managed to get to 20 per cent we cannot pretend that Australia will be able to compete successfully for capital, business investment and jobs, if the cost of doing business here is so much higher than in comparable countries."

He attacked Labor for failing to back the plan, but Mr Clare said the Prime Minister was not painting a true picture.

"We do have to be competitive and we are this is the key point, the US Congressional Budget Office put out a report about this a few weeks ago and made the point that Australia is competitive with other countries," he said.

"When you take into account things like dividend imputation which most countries don't have, you find that most companies in Australia don't pay the full company tax rate, Malcolm Turnbull forgets that or doesn't want to tell people that."

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, parliament, australia, european-union

First posted April 07, 2017 06:16:49

See original here:
Australia moves closer to free trade talks with European Union - ABC Online