UK Government statement on the meeting of the Partnership Council
The United Kingdom and the European Union today held the first meeting of the Partnership Council in London. The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere and marks an important milestone in our new relationship as friendly trading partners and sovereign equals.
We welcomed the final ratification of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and highlighted the importance of this Agreement in building a mutually beneficial and stable relationship. We agreed an indicative timetable for upcoming meetings of the various Joint Committees established under the Agreement, and encouraged continuing work on the establishment of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly and the Civil Society Forum.
With the post-Brexit trade pact now formally ratified, EU and UK lawmakers must take the lead in rebuilding the cross-Channel relationship, writes John McStravick.
John McStravick is the vice-chair of international affairs at think tank Agora and a researcher at Queen’s University Belfast.
Last week, the curtains closed on the latest act in the Brexit saga. Following the near-unanimous approval of the European Parliament, the European Council finally ratified the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on Thursday.
More than four years after the British public voted for their country to leave the European Union, Brexit has been delivered and a newly negotiated relationship between the EU and UK exists.
The European Parliament has voted with a large majority in favour of granting its consent to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement setting the rules of the future EU-UK.
Ratification of Brexit Treaty as Reality Begins to Dawn on European Union
Acceptance of Perceived Historic Mistake
EUROPE – UK – The powers that be within the EU are somewhat reminiscent of miners listening to the creaking of failing pit props in the darkness as acceptance slowly grows regarding Britain s departure from the Union.
The realities of future trade, and the maintenance of peace on the island of Ireland, seem to be finally dawning within an organisation rarely guilty of lifting its gaze from its collective navels. Perhaps it was the recent bloody violence in Northern Ireland that helped concentrate continental minds and demonstrate that there is a unique and fragile relationship between the province, the Republic and the UK.
Ireland confident of solution for post-Brexit Northern Ireland trade
Published 4 weeks ago
Ireland s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney (pictured) said he firmly believes Britain and the European Union can solve outstanding issues around post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland, particularly if a middle ground can be found on animal and animal product checks,
writes Padraic Halpin.
Trade barriers introduced between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom have caused deep anger among many pro-British unionists in the region and were partly responsible for over a week of nightly street violence this month.
British and EU negotiators have said they will step up talks in the coming weeks to solve what Simon Coveney described on Tuesday as practical frustrations in how the Northern Ireland protocol is being implemented.