Ursula von der Leyen tells UK that Europe ‘will always love you’ as MEPs approve withdrawal agreement.
The European Parliament has voted to ratify the Brexit withdrawal agreement after an emotional debate which ended with MEPs singing Auld Lang Syne and Nigel Farage being told to take his UK flag with him as he left Brussels forever. The exit was vited through the Parliament with an overwhealming 544 votes yes, and only 126 no votes and 38 abstentions.
Ahead of the vote Ursula von der Leyen told MEPs that the EU remained determined to forge a “close partnership” with Britain after Brexit as she told the UK Europe “will always love you”.
MEPs in Brussels overwhelmingly voted to back the agreement, paving the way for Britain to leave with a deal in place on Friday.
Ms von der Leyen quoted the poet George Eliot, as she said: “Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love.”
You can read the entire article here: Ursula von der Leyen tells UK that Europe ‘will always love you’ as MEPs approve withdrawal agreement
Source: The Telegraph
On my way back to London for meetings with clients.
I am taking the Early Bird from Stockholm to London. A bit lonely in the plane this morning, it is normally full.
Today we have a very interesting meeting on how to build competence and capacity in the private sector trading community in the post-Brexit environment.
It will most certainly be needed. There is a huge gap identified in the Customs Service Provider sector for the end of the Brexit transition/implementation period dtarting on Saturday this week.
Some Government sources have stated that there will be only 25-30% capacity in the sector, so it will be a come-first/serve-first-race to get help with Brexit preparations, Customs changes, Customs declarations, other supporting documents, compliance support, consulting, training etc.
We need to find smart ways to help all of – or at leadt most of.. the hundreds of thousands companies that have never done import and export before. This is essbentisl snd Government knows it.
One way to copenfor companies is to use the UK Customs Academy where fully digital Customs triaking courses are offered for free through generous HMG grants. On UK Customs Academy people can take courses online from anywhere and on any digital equipment; computer, laptop, iPad or SmartPhone etc and do so whenever the timing is right. The can be the best cost free time investment ever for a company, making sure staff is not creating huge problems for the company in the post-Brexit environment.
On UK Customs Academy you can get a professional pathway from accredited Level 2 to Level 7 courses (Level 6 and Level gives academic diplomas and degrees).
But we need many more similar initiatives, as well as we need to maximizing the use of the facilities already available.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has suggested the EU will be the “stronger team” in post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.
Comparing negotiations to a football match, he suggested to the BBC that the EU would be at an advantage due to its larger population and market.
The taoiseach said he did not think the UK had “yet come to terms with the fact it’s now a small country”.
Boris Johnson said he would be able to “wrap this all up” by the end of 2020.
Mr Varadkar held talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Barnier told reporters the two sides faced “the risk of a cliff edge” if trade terms were not agreed by the end of the post-Brexit transition period in December.
He cautioned that a “very short time” remained to “rebuild” the UK-EU relationship.
In an interview earlier with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Varadkar also said striking a deal in this timeframe was possible but would be “difficult”.
He pledged the EU would not be “dragging its feet,” but added: “My assessment is that it is more likely that we will need an extension in order to finalise a free trade agreement and future economic partnership than not need it.”
To read the entire article, click here: EU will have stronger team in trade talks with UK
Source: BBC
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