UN & the UK
UNA-UK is calling for the UK to show greater leadership on the issue of Legal Autonomous Weapon Systems (known as ‘killer robots’) with a Group of Governmental Experts soon to convene to discuss regulation, and at a time when Britain’s commitment to arms control is being questioned on the world stage.
Evaluation of UK’s international obligations
In Amnesty International’s latest report on global executions and the death penalty, there is concern that the UK is ‘damping down’ its criticism of this in pursuit of trade deals.
In Theresa May’s wavering over whether maintaining the pledge to spend 0.7% of Britain’s national income each year on foreign aid would feature in the Tory manifesto, Bill Gates warned that more people will die in Africa if it is removed. Following such pressure, Theresa May has stated that the pledge will remain in the manifesto.
UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU
Theresa May has announced that she will seek a snap election to be held on 8 June 2017, however Donald Tusk’s spokesman has stated that the EU’s Brexit plans remain unchanged by this.
Tim Bale, on The Conversation blog, argues that the election will make Brexit easier for Theresa May, giving her more backbenchers who are not ‘ultra-eurosceptic’ on whom to rely, and she is reportedly planning to enshrine three Brexit pledges – ending free movement, leaving the Single Market, and withdrawing from the ECJ – into the Conservative manifesto for the 8th June election.
Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out offering a second referendum on an eventual Brexit deal as part of Labour’s manifesto.
Gina Miller, whose legal challenge forced the Government to seek parliamentary approval for art 50, intends to launch a tactical voting initiative against hard Brexit.
For the EU law analysis blog, Professor Steve Peers has written an article as a guide to the Brexit negotiations.
Leaked documents reveal that the EU is toughening its Brexit negotiating stance following member state consultation, as it is downplaying hopes of a trade agreement before exit, demanding UK liabilities are paid in euros, and aiming to keep the UK under the ECJ rulings. However Antonio Tajani, European Parliament president, has stated that the UK would be welcomed back to the EU if voters overturn Brexit.
The European Commission has stated that two EU agencies, the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority which employ over 1000 people, will definitely move to the continent despite the UK’s attempts to keep them post Brexit, though the UK states that there has as yet been no decision taken on the location of EU agencies following Brexit.
The Argentinian foreign minister has stated in Brussels that Brexit might result in the UK losing the support of Europe for its control of the Falkland Islands.
Norton Rose Fulbright have published a blog setting out four reasons for confidence in London remaining a popular seat of arbitration despite Brexit.
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