EU and UK propose three rounds of negotiations on future conditions before the June top meeting , with both sides having to decide on a framework and plan for the rest of the year (and whether the transition period should be extended or not). The negotiating rounds will be on the weeks beginning April …
John Prine, two time Grammy-winner, singer- songwriter, passed away from a Covid-19 reaction on April 7. Widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, Prine was known for humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary and songs that recollect melancholy tales …
We often talk about the Customs family. Once a Customs officer, always a Customs officer. Customs officers protect and serve our borders 24/7 all weeks, months and years. Good weather, bad weather – it doesn’t matter. Customs is there by the border to protect and serve people, often in dangerous and challenging situations. There …
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EU Finance ministers agreed yesterday (Thursday) to a common emergency plan to limit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the European economy. EU member states have agreed to an emergency response plan of €500 billion. “This proposal contains bold and ambitious proposals that would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago”, the …
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UK Government medical and scientific advisers are still unsure when there will be a peak in the number of infections and fatalities. Senior ministers are gathering for a “lockdown summit” that is expected to result in restrictions on movement being extended until May at the earliest. Ahead of the COBRA meeting, hopes of an …
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Criminal organizations are poised to capitalize on weaknesses in an economy ravaged by the coronavirus. “The virus has demonstrated that it doesn’t respect frontiers, and the mafia has demonstrated that it doesn’t either,” said General Giuseppe Governale, head of Italy’s Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA), an FBI-style multiforce agency. “It is like water, it moves …
I am and will always be a proud Customs officer. There are many stories about the customs family, that people are connected with a specific bond. Customs guard our borders, 24/7 all days of the year. To protect and serve. This what we do. I can only verify that this is very true having …
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The United Arab Emirates Federal Customs Authority (FCA) has introduced a novelty, which is the first unified system for licensing the Customs Inspection Profession. It envisages to develop the customs inspection system, upgrade the inspectors competency, enhance control at the customs border posts and support the UAE competitiveness in the international indicators.The customs inspector …
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There is also demand from China and South Korea, but the Covid-19 pandemic has sent freight costs soaring while grounding aeroplanes. Australia’s 85,000 farms produce enough food to feed 75 million people – three times its population – but most of it is not leaving the country Until a fortnight ago, Antony Allen was …
The government has today unveiled temporary ‘customs easements’ to assist UK international trade during the coronavirus outbreak. The easement applies to all industry sectors, but with priority given to food, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. The move comes as figures released this morning show a contraction in UK manufacturing in March, blamed on supply lines …
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The EU Commission has today decided to approve requests from Member States and the UK to temporarily waive customs duties and VAT on the import of medical devices, and protective equipment, from third countries in order to help in the fight against coronavirus. This will make it easier financially to get the medical equipment …
Participating in ‘The Negotiation Podcast’ (Förhandlingspodden) from MAQS this week – talking Brexit, the transition period and the UK-EU Future Relations negotiations (in Swedish). The podcast has approximately 20.000 listeners per show. To listen to the podcast (in Swedish), click here : Förhandlingspodden
The consequences of a combined health pandemic and a global recession will be catastrophic for many developing countries and halt their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. – $1 trillion should be made available through the expanded use of special drawing rights– $1 trillion of debts owed by developing countries should be cancelled this …
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Bob Dylan has unexpectedly released his first new music since 2012. A17-minute song about the assassination of John F Kennedy. It is a great song. The Nobel Prize-winning artist, 78, shared the track called ‘Murder Most Foul’ with a short message to fans on Friday morning. “Greetings to my fans and followers for all …
UK-EU talks on a post-Brexit trade deal will go ahead as planned next week, despite the chief negotiator on each side being diagnosed with coronavirus. Much of Europe is on lockdown, so Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will meet EU officials via video link. The UK’s David Frost and the EU’s Michel Barnier are …
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It is time for a new trade paradigm. Beyond the pandemic. Trade recovery will have to be in the centre of any financial recovery plan post-C19/CV. We will need more extensive FTAs than ever before, including one between the EU and UK.And we will need it fast. Some people say that the waves of …
The Defence from Covid 19, the Last few Weeks This is a war. The last few weeks have been our Dunkirk moment. It’s been all about retreat, protect and defend. This week, 2 million tests rapid 10-15 min C19 diagnostic tests arrive from our suppliers in Guangzhou and Hangzhou. This week, we start to …
Sweden has become an international outlier in its response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak: many schools and offices remain open, and the capital’s commuter trains are packed. ‘It is a huge experiment. Since the UK went into lockdown on Monday evening, Sweden is the largest European country with the fewest limits on where people …
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The National Crime Agency today warned that organised crime groups may try to exploit the coronavirus outbreak to target the UK. Despite the unprecedented situation with the pandemic, the NCA is continuing to protect the public and leading the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime throughout this difficult time. Steve Rodhouse, NCA …
Britain and the European Union have exchanged draft legal texts containing their proposals for how relations between the two sides should work after the end of a Brexit transition period on 31 December, a British government spokesman said on Wednesday (18 March). Britain formally left the bloc on 31 January, but under the terms …
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