Can EU be rescued?

The result from France indicates that some extreme reactions against the EU are not sufficiently popular to get governments overthrown. EU leaders will take these results as confirmation of their success; they shouldn’t, the resentment continues to smoulder but a majority of Europeans appear to be rejecting xenophobia and extreme nationalism as solutions. But that … More Can EU be rescued?

Mercury rising

It must be quite rough in the English Channel (La Manche in French, Ärmelkanal in German, both meaning ‘sleeve’) just now, with the hot wind from pre-negotiation posturing blowing up our sleeve, even if there’s little else up it.  Richard North, in his blog EUReferendum (Friday May 5), ascribes the heat and noise to justified obligations … More Mercury rising

A Clean Brexit

If re-elected, the Prime Minister has promised that Britain will leave the EU’s Single Market (SM) and Customs Union (CU). Some call this a “Hard” Brexit, others call it a “Clean” Brexit; the former raises concerns for the future of our trade, but are these fears exaggerated? Whilst the minutiae of a post hard-Brexit look … More A Clean Brexit

Germany calling the shots

There is growing evidence that Germany is using its weight to drive the EU in the direction it favours; towards a federalised Europe. We open with thought-provoking advice from Germany: http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-39705689/son-of-nazi-leaders-warning-on-germany Niklas Frank, son of a wartime Nazi leader, spoke to Stephen Sackur of the BBC’s Hard Talk programme. Frank is not confident that Germany … More Germany calling the shots

UK General Election

Many Remainers have been demanding a second referendum because: the first was only advisory, the terms were not understood by voters (they didn’t vote to become poorer), they were lied to, or for any reason that might give them another chance to keep the UK in the EU. A General Election is not the same … More UK General Election

Shorties-8

The Rock and a Hard Pace The comment in the Divorce Guidelines has produced the expected response from the British government and others: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and … More Shorties-8

Law or Order?

Some recommendations on how the UK Government should deal with its commitments to the EU after Brexit. Brexit-supporting organisation http://www.theunituk.org.uk has an article by Robert Henderson recommending that the UK should simply walk away from its EU commitments, adopt WTO status and immediately start negotiations on trade agreements with non-EU countries, as well as with … More Law or Order?