Brexit: Analysts give govt just 20% chance of striking EU trade deal this year January 14, 2020 The government has just a 20 per cent chance of striking a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU within its stated deadline of this calendar year, a new report by Oxford Economics argues. Indeed, analysts believe there is a higher chance of talks disintegrating entirely, leaving the UK trading on WTO terms from the start [...]
Steel makers face another tough year ahead, says Moody’s December 10, 2019 European steel makers have been dealt a gloomy forecast for next year, as Moody’s ratings agency predicted slowing demand and deteriorating profitability for the industry. Key sectors using European-made steel such as the automotive industry are likely to need less of the material next year amid a wider market slowdown, it said. Read more: New [...]
European parliament declares worldwide climate emergency ahead of UN summit November 28, 2019 The European parliament today declared a worldwide “climate emergency” in a non-binding vote ahead of December’s UN climate summit. Lawmakers voted in favour of the resolution with 429 for the motion, 225 against and 19 abstaining. Read more: No emissions peak in sight as greenhouse gas levels hit record high The declaration calls on the [...]
FTSE 100 and US stocks rise as investors bet on recovery May 28, 2020 US stocks have joined the FTSE 100 in the green as investors continue to bet on a relatively swift economic recovery from coronavirus, with spirits high as countries reopen their economies. London’s main stock index was up one per cent in afternoon trading at 6,205 points. It had risen more than one per cent yesterday. [...]
Brexit latest: EU tells Boris Johnson to propose new commissioner November 6, 2019 The EU Commission’s incoming president has written a letter to Boris Johnson, telling the Prime Minister she expects him to propose a new candidate for commissioner. The letter, sent by Ursula von der Leyen today, suggests Johnson put forward a female name. Commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant told reporters: “The president-elect has sent a letter to [...]
Boris Johnson’s election majority set to pass Brexit bill – but second phase challenges loom January 9, 2020 Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill is expected to pass its final stage in the Commons this afternoon, bringing to a close months of wrangling over the UK’s exit from the European Union. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill – which Theresa May spent over a year trying and failing to get backing for during her premiership – is [...]
Von der Leyen gets top job at European Commission, becoming first woman president July 16, 2019 The European Parliament yesterday voted German conservative Ursula von der Leyen as the first female EU Commission president. Von der Leyen, a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, secured 383 votes, needing a minimum 374 votes to be confirmed. Read more: Ex-European Commission president says UK financial services should be higher on Brexit agenda [...]
Welcome to stage two of the Brexit battle: the ‘level playing field’ February 4, 2020 The battle of visions has begun. Boris Johnson views non-alignment with the major common EU rules as sacrosanct — unsurprising, since the UK has now withdrawn from the bloc. The European Commission, meanwhile, seeks an alignment of standards across a vast body of EU policy in return for a good trade deal. The essence of [...]
EU Commission unveils ‘European Green Deal’ in Brussels December 11, 2019 The president of the EU Commission today in Brussels set out the details of her long-expected “European Green Deal”, as the UN climate summit continues in Madrid. Ursula von der Leyen described the plan, which would make the EU the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050, as Europe’s “man on the moon moment.” Read [...]
The EU must dump the idea of EU dumping June 1, 2020 Michel Barnier is refusing to negotiate with the UK on the future trading relationship until the UK agrees to the EU’s idea of a ‘level playing field’. One of the key issues concerning the EU is ‘dumping’. It is worried that the UK will become a super-competitive, de-regulated ‘Singapore-on-Thames’ that undercuts the prices of products [...]