Setting out Brexit vision, Britain's May appeals to EU to show flexibility

[rooster59]

Setting out Brexit vision, Britain's May appeals to EU to show flexibility

By Elizabeth Piper

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech about her vision for Brexit, at Mansion House in London, Britain, March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Brady/Pool

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May urged the European Union on Friday to show more flexibility in talks on a future relationship after Brexit, saying Britain realised it could not get all it wanted but believed an ambitious trade deal was still possible.

 

In a much-anticipated speech, May set out ambitions for a tailor-made free trade deal that would include financial services and said Britain would aim for associate membership of EU regulators covering chemicals, medicines and aerospace.

 

Jettisoning an earlier strident view that Britain could walk away from the talks, May appealed to the EU to work together to solve some of the more difficult Brexit problems, including over Ireland, where some fear the return of a "hard border" with the British province of Northern Ireland after Brexit.

 

But by proposing that Britain accept some EU rules and regulations and that the European Court of Justice continue to play a role in British law, May also risked alarming some campaigners who fear she will preside over Brexit in name only.

 

"We all need to face up to some hard facts," May told ambassadors and business leaders in the Mansion House, the 18th century official home of the Lord Mayor of London in the heart of the capital's financial district.

 

"Neither of us can have exactly what we want ... So we need to strike a new balance."

 

It was, she added, time to be "straight" with people over what was achievable, some 20 months after Britain voted to leave the EU and her government began to try to unravel more than 40 years of integration. Britain is due to leave on March 29, 2019.

 

The EU's main negotiator, Michel Barnier, welcomed the "clarity" May offered and her recognition that Britain faces "trade-offs". Big business echoed his words and even some Brexit campaigners praised the prime minister for her pragmatism.

 

DOUBTS

 

But some EU officials were more sceptical. Manfred Weber, a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the European Parliament, said May had her "head in the sand", while the assembly's Brexit point man Guy Verhofstadt called the speech a "few extra cherries on the cake".

 

May's speech, entitled "Our Future Partnership", was an attempt to settle doubts over how Britain sees its future outside the EU and its economic architecture and to try to ease frustrations in Brussels over what they say is a lack of detail.

 

She dismissed the 'off-the-shelf' trading arrangements which the EU already has with countries such as Norway, saying they did not provide "the best way forward" for Britain or the EU.

 

But her vision was little changed from an earlier proposal for Britain to be able to diverge from some of the EU's rules and regulations while sticking to others which benefit Britain, a plan the bloc has described as "pure illusion".

 

May, 61, has long kept her cards close to her chest, trying to avoid provoking those in Britain who want a clean break with the EU, or others who fear the world's sixth-largest economy will suffer if barriers are raised against a major trading partner.

 

One Brexit campaigner welcomed the speech and praised May, who has been under pressure from two warring factions in her Conservative Party.

 

"The EU must now consider whether they want to put rigid doctrine ahead of the mutual interests of their people and those of the UK," David Jones, a Conservative lawmaker and former junior Brexit minister, told Reuters.

 

"We must hope that they will be as positive and pragmatic as Theresa May."

 

A government source said the speech was aimed at showing more pragmatism in the Brexit talks, which are now even struggling over the relatively easier part of agreeing a transition period after Britain leaves in March next year.

 

It will be very difficult for May to clinch the bespoke trade deal she seeks with the EU within the given time frame while keeping her deeply divided party on side and parliament, where she has only a narrow majority, broadly supportive.

 

"The City (financial centre) needs a deal in place before the end of a transition period... Not something that would take 10 years," said New Financial, a think-tank that promotes capital markets in Europe.

 

ROWS

 

May's speech did offer some proposals to solve some of the thorniest problems thrown up by Brexit, especially over Ireland, after the EU set out in a draft withdrawal agreement a backup plan that effectively would see Northern Ireland remain part of the EU's customs union.

 

She offered a customs partnership, where Britain would implement EU tariffs on its border for goods intended for the bloc, or a streamlined customs arrangement, where jointly implemented measures and the use of technology would minimise friction.

 

But the government source said the latter approach would need more work to fully solve the border question, and an EU official told Reuters in Brussels it was "fantasy" to suppose the bloc would trust Britain to collect tariffs on its behalf.

 

It was also unclear whether Britain having access to the EU's financial markets in return for keeping similar standards to those of the bloc would be accepted in Brussels.

 

But May's overall message was that the EU and Britain must both focus on the benefits of their future trade relationship.

 

"Yes, there will be ups and downs in the months ahead... We will not be buffeted by the demands to talk tough or threaten a walk-out," she said.

 

"By following the course I have set out today, I am confident we will get there and deliver the right outcome for Britain and the EU."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-03

[Samui Bodoh]

So let me see...

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants to have access to financial markets.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants the EU court of Justice to play a role.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants Free Trade

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants access to chemicals, medicines and aerospace.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants no hard border with Europe.

 

Or put another way...

 

The UK wants Brexit if necessary, but doesn't necessarily want Brexit.

 

Tell me again why the UK is doing this?

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The UK wants Brexit if necessary, but doesn't necessarily want Brexit.

 

Tell me again why the UK is doing this?

Perhaps UK wishes to treat EU like one of its colonies back in the Good Old Days. Take all the nice and shiny things from EU and give very little in return. 

 

UK's MEP Nigel Farage was a prime example of 'I know better than you all'  master mentality. 

 

 

[bannork]

May is pleading with the EU. Begging will be coming soon.

Finally there will be resignation of mind and the PM's position as Britain doesn't get what it wants.

 

[baboon]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

So let me see...

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants to have access to financial markets.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants the EU court of Justice to play a role.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants Free Trade

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants access to chemicals, medicines and aerospace.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants no hard border with Europe.

 

Or put another way...

 

The UK wants Brexit if necessary, but doesn't necessarily want Brexit.

 

Tell me again why the UK is doing this?

 

Does anybody actually know anymore?

[terryw]

There are only two options available - a Canada type trade deal or walking away and trading on WTO rules. Both will damage the EU more than the UK because neither includes financial services. 

[ilostmypassword]

29 minutes ago, terryw said:

There are only two options available - a Canada type trade deal or walking away and trading on WTO rules. Both will damage the EU more than the UK because neither includes financial services. 

You couldn't have gotten it more wrong. The EU can revoke the passporting rights of UK financial institutions which would be a huge loss for the UK. Right now, financial services are the biggest source of foreign exchange income in the UK's foreign trade.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/18/uk-cannot-have-a-special-deal-for-the-city-says-eu-brexit-negotiator-barnier

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-financials/eu-holding-line-against-passporting-for-british-banks-after-brexit-idUSKBN1FK116

 

Where did you get this bizarre piece of misinformation from?

[Retiredandhappyhere]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

So let me see...

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants to have access to financial markets.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants the EU court of Justice to play a role.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants Free Trade

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants access to chemicals, medicines and aerospace.

 

The UK wants complete independence from the EU, but still wants no hard border with Europe.

 

Or put another way...

 

The UK wants Brexit if necessary, but doesn't necessarily want Brexit.

 

Tell me again why the UK is doing this?

 

Because we want to!

[ilostmypassword]

1 minute ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

Because we want to!

"Because we want to!"...have our cake and eat it, too.

[petermik]

7 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

"Because we want to!"...have our cake and eat it, too.

We want OUT of the dictatorship that is the EU.....simple....the EU wants to make it difficult as possible as they cannot afford to lose our contributions...those are the FACTS.

[fvw53]

10 minutes ago, petermik said:

We want OUT of the dictatorship that is the EU.....simple....the EU wants to make it difficult as possible as they cannot afford to lose our contributions...those are the FACTS.

The UK seems to me as a spouse wanting a divorce from a partner devastated by it....and still set the conditions of the divorce

[petermik]

7 hours ago, fvw53 said:

The UK seems to me as a spouse wanting a divorce from a partner devastated by it....and still set the conditions of the divorce

And why not....we have been well and truly "screwed" in the past by this bureaucratic nightmare...

[Becker]

17 minutes ago, petermik said:

And why not....we have been well and truly "screwed" in the past by this bureaucratic nightmare...

Oh yes, you've been soooooo screwed.

 

How much does UK benefit from EU?

The CBI estimates that the net benefit of EU membership is worth 4-5% of GDP to the UK, or £62bn-£78bn per year. In 2014, the ONS reported that the EU, which is the world's biggest economy, accounted for 44.6 per cent of all UK exports of goods and services, and 53.2 per cent of the UK's imports of goods and services.Jun 25, 2016

 

But hey, I've just read that the UK got a killer trade deal with Vanuatu so that should offset some of the damage!!

[StraightTalk]

26 minutes ago, petermik said:

And why not....we have been well and truly "screwed" in the past by this bureaucratic nightmare...

Ya'll been screwed by the powers of your government officials and populists!

Before discontinue the association I would've thought it'd be prudent studying & considering the conditions agreed to prior joining the EU...

[eliotness]

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

You couldn't have gotten it more wrong. The EU can revoke the passporting rights of UK financial institutions which would be a huge loss for the UK. Right now, financial services are the biggest source of foreign exchange income in the UK's foreign trade.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/18/uk-cannot-have-a-special-deal-for-the-city-says-eu-brexit-negotiator-barnier

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-financials/eu-holding-line-against-passporting-for-british-banks-after-brexit-idUSKBN1FK116

 

Where did you get this bizarre piece of misinformation from?

Misinformation 555 and you quote the Guardian, the most pro EU paper in the UK. Then Reuters that "trusty" mouthpiece of the liberal left elite. LOL

Edited March 3, 2018 by eliotness
Missed a bit.

[ilostmypassword]

32 minutes ago, eliotness said:

Misinformation 555 and you quote the Guardian, the most pro EU paper in the UK. Then Reuters that "trusty" mouthpiece of the liberal left elite. LOL

You conveniently ignored the fact the I also cited Reuters.

What about those communists at Fox News?

 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/07/03/uk-finance-lobbyists-talk-post-brexit-options-in-brussels.html

 

Or what about the Telegraph which is strongly pro-Brexit?

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/09/20/almost-5500-finance-firms-use-passports-to-access-single-market/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/09/24/city-looks-to-new-passporting-rules-to-weather-the-brexit-storm/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/04/17/what-will-happen-to-the-city-if-we-quit-the-eu/

 

I look forward to your response. But I'm not expecting one. 

Your post is just one more instance of proof that the strongest force in the world today is willful ignorance.

[Grouse]

1 hour ago, petermik said:

And why not....we have been well and truly "screwed" in the past by this bureaucratic nightmare...

Utter nonsense. This is why it was a stupid idea to have a referendum.

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, oilinki said:

Perhaps UK wishes to treat EU like one of its colonies back in the Good Old Days. Take all the nice and shiny things from EU and give very little in return. 

 

UK's MEP Nigel Farage was a prime example of 'I know better than you all'  master mentality. 

 

 

 

At least former UK colonies were better treated than those of Belgium and Germany! 

 

Whereas the EU, well those ruling it, want to squeeze the UK and dictate rather than negotiate as a warning to others. Doesn't seem to be scaring some though, does it.

 

Farage is a hypocritical lying chancer whose made a lot of money out of the EU and probably never thought the UK would leave and his gravy train dry up. But you'll find them in every country too.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

30 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Utter nonsense. This is why it was a stupid idea to have a referendum.

 

But the leave campaigners did a good job of portraying that as fact. Just like the "fact" of how many millions could be pumped weekly into the NHS from the saved EU contributions!

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Whereas the EU, well those ruling it, want to squeeze the UK and dictate rather than negotiate as a warning to others. Doesn't seem to be scaring some though, does it.

 

Farage is a hypocritical lying chancer whose made a lot of money out of the EU and probably never thought the UK would leave and his gravy train dry up. But you'll find them in every country too.

The adults have entered the negotiation game, it's time for the kids to go home or they might get hurt. 

 

EU's role in the brexit negotiations is to make sure it serves the people of EU in the long term. 

It's not to give hugs and wishes to departing UK. That role is reserved to UK government.

 

[sawadee1947]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

May appealed to the EU to work together to solve some of the more difficult Brexit problems, including over Ireland, where some fear the return of a "hard border" with the British province of Northern Ireland after Brexit.

...and who started with those problems??? And why EU should help? If there will be a hard border it seems to be time for IRA again???

[vogie]

7 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

...and who started with those problems??? And why EU should help? If there will be a hard border it seems to be time for IRA again???

Maybe time for the Black and Tans also???

[natway09]

Finally the realization of Brexit is starting to sink in to a country that had a referendum on leaving

without any forward planning on what the break would actually mean 

[mfd101]

The Irish border problem about sums it all up: Britain doesn't want a north-south divide in the Irish Sea and for good reason. No! Britain doesn't want an east-west divide between north & south, and for good reason. No! Britain doesn't want the only rational solution - for Britain to stay in the customs union. No!

 

So what does Britain want? Noone can work it out, least of all the British non-government. There is no 4th option that anyone has been able to come up with.

 

So lots of No's by next March and Britain will tumble off the cliff with No deal, No continuing trade preferences, and No new FTAs with Vanuatu, Oz, India, Canada, Usofa or Zimbabwe. Well done, Brits. You've excelled even my close-to-zero expectations.

 

[robertson468]

3 hours ago, Becker said:

Oh yes, you've been soooooo screwed.

 

How much does UK benefit from EU?

The CBI estimates that the net benefit of EU membership is worth 4-5% of GDP to the UK, or £62bn-£78bn per year. In 2014, the ONS reported that the EU, which is the world's biggest economy, accounted for 44.6 per cent of all UK exports of goods and services, and 53.2 per cent of the UK's imports of goods and services.Jun 25, 2016

 

But hey, I've just read that the UK got a killer trade deal with Vanuatu so that should offset some of the damage!!

Not to mention the momentous damage that will be done by the US's new trading rules against the EU (and don't remember that Germany is a major steel and aluminium producer) and you of course don't mention that UK has just been awarded the manufacture and production of the Toyotas electric/hybrid new car.  Ask yourself why the EU is so very peeved at the UK's Brexit:  two issues, money and power.  They are also concerned that once we are out of the EU, we can go and trade with whoever we like without the bureaucracy dictated by the EU mandarins.  There will obviously be a period of adjustment, but I believe that the British Businesses have the drive and ambition to exceed the present situation.

[ilostmypassword]

28 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

Not to mention the momentous damage that will be done by the US's new trading rules against the EU (and don't remember that Germany is a major steel and aluminium producer) and you of course don't mention that UK has just been awarded the manufacture and production of the Toyotas electric/hybrid new car.  Ask yourself why the EU is so very peeved at the UK's Brexit:  two issues, money and power.  They are also concerned that once we are out of the EU, we can go and trade with whoever we like without the bureaucracy dictated by the EU mandarins.  There will obviously be a period of adjustment, but I believe that the British Businesses have the drive and ambition to exceed the present situation.

In the face o fall economic history to the contrary. Brexit is magic! And the UK is Tinkerbell!

Edited March 3, 2018 by ilostmypassword

[Becker]

1 hour ago, robertson468 said:

Not to mention the momentous damage that will be done by the US's new trading rules against the EU (and don't remember that Germany is a major steel and aluminium producer) and you of course don't mention that UK has just been awarded the manufacture and production of the Toyotas electric/hybrid new car.  Ask yourself why the EU is so very peeved at the UK's Brexit:  two issues, money and power.  They are also concerned that once we are out of the EU, we can go and trade with whoever we like without the bureaucracy dictated by the EU mandarins.  There will obviously be a period of adjustment, but I believe that the British Businesses have the drive and ambition to exceed the present situation.

And you're entitled to that opinion. I, OTOH, count the Brexit vote up there with the election of a particularly evil and stupid man-child as POTUS as the top two most idiotic results of a democratic process in history and unfortunately for the younger generations in the UK that's something they will have to live with all their lives.

At least in the US there's a time limit to how long the madness will last (and if we're lucky the McD diet will end the suffering sooner rather than later).

[aright]

3 minutes ago, Becker said:

 and unfortunately for the younger generations in the UK that's something they will have to live with all their lives.

 

The logical conclusion of your argument is that only young people should have a vote because they have a future, whereas older people are in Gods waiting room waiting for the Grim Reaper and only have a short term future. At what age would you stop giving people the vote?  

[Becker]

15 minutes ago, aright said:

The logical conclusion of your argument is that only young people should have a vote because they have a future, whereas older people are in Gods waiting room waiting for the Grim Reaper and only have a short term future. At what age would you stop giving people the vote?  

That's not a logical conclusion at all - quite the opposite.

[aright]

18 minutes ago, Becker said:

That's not a logical conclusion at all - quite the opposite.

Then dismantle the argument and give us your conclusion with regard to my vote which as you suggest young people have to live with for the rest of their lives which are longer term than mine.