The Urgency of Addressing Iran’s Nuclear Threat

[webfact]

Brexit border deal possible in "hours" as talks go down to the wire

By Robin Emmott and Padraic Halpin

 

A sign for Money Changed is seen on the border between Lifford in Ireland and Strabane, Northern Ireland, August 16, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

 

BRUSSELS/DUBLIN (Reuters) - The United Kingdom and Ireland could reach agreement in hours on how to run their post-Brexit Irish land border, paving the way for a deal that would remove the last obstacle to opening free trade talks with the European Union.

 

A carefully choreographed attempt to showcase the progress of Brexit talks collapsed at the last minute on Dec. 4 when the Northern Irish party which props up Prime Minister Theresa May's government vetoed a draft deal already agreed with Ireland.

 

Since then, May has been scrambling to clinch a deal on the new UK-EU land border in Ireland that is acceptable to the European Union, Dublin, her own lawmakers and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which keeps her government in power.

 

May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker could meet early on Friday to seal a border deal, the European Commission's chief spokesman said.

 

"We are making progress but not yet fully there," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said. "Talks are continuing throughout the night. Early morning meeting possible."

 

A spokesman for PM May said Brexit discussions were ongoing while a senior Irish official that talks were moving swiftly and that a deal was possible in hours.

 

"It is moving quite quickly at the moment," the Irish official told a British Irish Chamber of Commerce event in Brussels. "I think we are going to work over the next couple of hours with the UK government to close this off. I say hours because I think we are very close."

 

Moving to talks about trade and a Brexit transition are crucial for the future of May's premiership, and to keep trade flowing between the world’s biggest trading bloc and its sixth largest national economy after Britain leaves on March 29, 2019.

 

But the EU will only move to trade talks if there is enough progress on three key issues: the money Britain must pay to the EU; rights for EU citizens in Britain and British citizens in the EU; and how to avoid a hard border with Ireland.

 

BREXIT DEAL?

 

As speculation swirled about whether London, Dublin and Brussels were about to clinch a border deal, European Council President Donald Tusk's office said he would brief reporters at 0650 GMT on Friday before departing for Hungary.

 

The EU says May has an effective deadline of Sunday night if she wants to seal a deal and hope to have agreement on trade talks in time for the EU summit on Dec. 14-15.

 

All sides say they want to avoid a return to a hard border between EU member Ireland and the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland, which might upset the peace established after decades of violence.

 

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) insists that Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, must leave the EU in the same way as the rest of the United Kingdom.

 

To clinch a deal, though, May must ensure she has the support of the DUP, whose leader told her bluntly on Monday that it would not support her minority government's legislation unless the Irish border draft deal was changed.

 

She must also convince her divided Conservative Party that the deal she makes is acceptable.

 

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a leader of the Brexit campaign, insisted the whole of the United Kingdom must "take back control" when it left the EU.

 

"Whatever way we devise for getting onto the body of the (Brexit) talks, it's got to be consistent with the whole of the United Kingdom taking back control of our laws, of our borders and of our cash," Johnson told reporters.

 

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Andrew Roche)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-08

[baboon]

Lock the buggers up in a prison cell with no food or water until they come up with something. If you decide to shoot them after, well that's fine with me too...

[rudi49jr]

24 minutes ago, baboon said:

Lock the buggers up in a prison cell with no food or water until they come up with something. If you decide to shoot them after, well that's fine with me too...

That's probably a little harsh, but apparently none of the Brexiteers have done their homework to figure out what the damage will be if the UK leave the EU and how much it will cost them. Let's just see how that works out.

[baboon]

6 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

That's probably a little harsh, but apparently none of the Brexiteers have done their homework to figure out what the damage will be if the UK leave the EU and how much it will cost them. Let's just see how that works out.

I'm gonna take a punt on 'Badly'...

[alant]

17 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

That's probably a little harsh, but apparently none of the Brexiteers have done their homework to figure out what the damage will be if the UK leave the EU and how much it will cost them. Let's just see how that works out.

Non of the Remoaners seem to be willing to admit how much being a part of it is costing us...

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, alant said:

Non of the Remoaners seem to be willing to admit how much being a part of it is costing us...

That's right, it's the remainers who aren't willing to confront the economic consequences of Brexit. The Brexiters predict, contrary to all previous economic experience, that any loss of trade with the EU can be made up via trade elsewhere. And lets not forget the 350 million pounds per week.

[dunroaming]

Well done EU! First hurdle crossed.  You have saved Theresa May as well.  Not sure what concessions have been made yet but Simon Coveney has tweeted

 

"Deal Confirmed! Ireland supports Brexit negotiations moving to Phase 2 now that we have secured assurances for all on the island of Ireland - fully protecting GFA, peace process, all-Island economy and ensuring that there can be NO HARD BORDER on the Island of Ireland post Brexit"

 

It has also been said that there will no red line in the Irish sea.  Does that mean then that with the GFA being protected it means no hard border between Ireland ( an EU country) and the rest of the UK? Waiting to hear the nitty gritty.

 

Obviously now the real negotiations can begin but let's not forget no trade deals have been on the table until now.  Still it is good news and let's hope for the best outcome.  

 

 

[vogie]

5 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

That's right, it's the remainers who aren't willing to confront the economic consequences of Brexit. The Brexiters predict, contrary to all previous economic experience, that any loss of trade with the EU can be made up via trade elsewhere. And lets not forget the 350 million pounds per week.

 

[dunroaming]

From Sky news:

"UK will maintain “full alignment” with rules of single market and customs union which support cross-border cooperation and create “no new regulatory barriers” - further details of the Brexit joint agreement"

 

Surprisingly the pound hasn't rallied over the news, in fact dropped a little against the dollar.  Maybe after more details emerge it will rise.

[baboon]

31 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

From Sky news:

"UK will maintain “full alignment” with rules of single market and customs union which support cross-border cooperation and create “no new regulatory barriers” - further details of the Brexit joint agreement"

 

Surprisingly the pound hasn't rallied over the news, in fact dropped a little against the dollar.  Maybe after more details emerge it will rise.

The further you come, the further you realise you have left to go?

[dunroaming]

Little snippets coming out.  UK has conceded that the European Court of Justice will have a say over citizens rights even though those EU citizens will be living under English laws.  Some confusion about the single market and customs union but I think it will just come down to the form of words. I suspect, to save face, it will be said that we will be out of the single market and customs union but will abide by the same rules...  Just guessing at the moment though.

 

Nigel Farage has come out and said this isn't a brexit at all! 

Edited December 8, 2017 by dunroaming

[dunroaming]

If Mr Farage is right then it does look like the UK have bowed to nearly all of the EU's demands.  It appears that if we are honouring the GFA and abiding by the single market and custom agreement rules then we will be accepting the free movement of people.  I might be wrong about that!  It's still not clear yet.  

 

"Let us remember that the most difficult challenge is still ahead. We all know that breaking up is hard but breaking up and building a new relation is much harder," Tusk said, reading a statement.

 

Lot's more to come and we are still in for a rocky ride.

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

From Sky news:

"UK will maintain “full alignment” with rules of single market and customs union which support cross-border cooperation and create “no new regulatory barriers” - further details of the Brexit joint agreement"

 

Surprisingly the pound hasn't rallied over the news, in fact dropped a little against the dollar.  Maybe after more details emerge it will rise.

Sterling has risen against THB and PHP

[simoh1490]

3 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Sterling has risen against THB and PHP

A slight rise against USD but the outlook is bearish, only the offshore GBP/THB rate has risen, we won't know until Monday what the onshore rate might be - I suspect Monday will see the rate rise in the morning and fall back close to the previous level by Tuesday. https://www.fxstreet.com/rates-charts/gbpusd

[khunken]

Yes we know what happened a week ago when the UK & Ireland agreed on the border issue, so I think it would be wise to wait and see if all parties have agreed to the soft border.

 

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings & the fat lady here is Arlene Foster.

[dunroaming]

35 minutes ago, khunken said:

Yes we know what happened a week ago when the UK & Ireland agreed on the border issue, so I think it would be wise to wait and see if all parties have agreed to the soft border.

 

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings & the fat lady here is Arlene Foster.

Well I think the fat lady won't be singing for a year or so yet.  However Arlene says she is happy with the deal in principle and quite honestly I can't see that now being an issue. No hard border with Ireland and no border with the UK and the GFA being adhered to. I think many details will be kept quiet so as not to spook the horses but I am sure some of the Remoaners will be thankful that we are heading for a soft Brexit after all.

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

Sterling has risen against THB and PHP

Good, nobody wants a strong pound more than me and you guys in Thailand on a pension.

 

Just seen that the pound has rallied and then dropped back a bit but still slightly higher.

Edited December 8, 2017 by dunroaming

[Grouse]

3 hours ago, dunroaming said:

Good, nobody wants a strong pound more than me and you guys in Thailand on a pension.

 

Just seen that the pound has rallied and then dropped back a bit but still slightly higher.

Really? I'll have to get my feeler guages out!

[dunroaming]

13 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Really? I'll have to get my feeler guages out!

Yes that was a bit of a cavalier statement wasn't it! 

 

Very few posts on this thread.  Maybe the Brexit supporters are having a lie down with an aspirin?

Edited December 8, 2017 by dunroaming

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

Yes that was a bit of a cavalier statement wasn't it! 

 

Very few posts on this thread.  Maybe the Brexit supporters are having a lie down with an aspirin?

Turps and Valium