UK in CJEU
CJEU judges are hearing a case considering whether the British Government has breached the family rights of a dual British-Spanish citizen seeking to have her Algerian husband live with her in the UK.
Evaluation of UK’s international obligations
Corruption Watch UK has published a report considering how decommissioned Norwegian gunships were exported by a UK company, CAS-Global, via the UK and with UK licencing approval, to a former Nigerian warlord who is now wanted for corruption. The Guardian considers that this is part of an effort by the UK to improve its record on prosecuting companies who are said to pay bribes to foreign officials and politicians to land contracts overseas.
UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU
David Davis has rejected the EU’s timetable for Brexit talks, saying that the UK would be disadvantaged by an early agreement regarding financial obligations and the future status of the Northern Irish border. Meanwhile Boris Johnson has insisted that the EU could end up paying a Brexit bill to the UK rather than the other way around, and has warned the bloc could ‘play dirty’ in negotiations.
In a document entitled ‘Guiding principles for transparency’, the EU has produced a list of papers it will disclose throughout the negotiation with the UK, pushing for openness. The EU has also stated that it wants Brexit talks to begin the day after the UK election vote and MEPs have welcomed the unity of the 27 Member States and the EU institutions with regard to Brexit whilst calling for a reform of the EU to benefit all its citizens.
Campaigning for the election, Nicola Sturgeon has stated that a vote for the SNP in the election will strengthen Scotland’s hand over Brexit and will better able her to argue for a seat at the negotiating table. Meanwhile The Guardian reports that a leading donor behind the Brexit victory has pledged to fund a campaign to oust almost 140 pro-remain MPs in an attempt to ensure there is “no backsliding on Brexit” after the election. The LibDems have made a second referendum on Brexit one of their manifesto pledges.
Wolfgang Munchau, for the Financial Times, has explained that many in the EU still think that Brexit won’t happen, and to counter this the UK should come up with a Plan B setting out what will happen if an agreement is not reached or is vetoed. However ORB International has found that new polling results suggest that public confidence in Brexit negotiations has increased.
Mishcon de Reya have published their latest issue of the Brussels Insider, considering likely initial discussions in the Brexit process.
Brussels is finalising plans to deploy the EU budget as a European Defence Fund for the first time as Brexit removes a significant obstacle to increased defence cooperation among its members.
For the LSE Brexit blog, André Sapir has argued that UK-EU financial settlement risks becoming a toxic stumbling block in Brexit negotiations and to diffuse it both sides should agree to independent international arbitration.
The EU Observer blog has considered the possibility that Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway could be part of the EU’s deal with the UK after the latter leaves the bloc in April 2019.
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