EU offers closer post-Brexit relation if UK remains in the customs union

Thursday, April 26th 2018 - 09:23 UTC

Full article 7 comments

The European Union could offer Britain a closer relationship after Brexit if Prime Minister Theresa May decides to stay in the bloc’s customs union, diplomats said. EU hopes London could change its stance on what ties it wants after Brexit after Britain’s upper house of parliament challenged the government on a key bill relating to May’s plan to quit the customs union. Read full article

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darragh
”We are flexible, never dogmatic. We are open for business,” Barnier said.

Hilarious - funniest thing I've heard in ages.

Not getting desperate are we lads - starting to worry about all that British money you're not going to have to cover your pensions.
Apr 26th, 2018 - 01:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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The Voice
After Brexit the EU will have the status of just another country. A country which people can travel to and from without red tape. A country where we can live and whose citizens can live here. There will be more limits on the exchange of workers. Goods will move across the EU border tariff free in both directions.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 12:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Conqueror
@Voice. That was funny. As funny as darragh's comment from Barnier. It doesn't take much to see the “cunning plan”. Stay in “the” customs union or agree “a” customs arrangement and the EU will demand that Britain operates the common (external) customs tariff and only enter into trade agreements of which the EU approves. Naturally, the “minor” difficulties can be made to disappear if Britain were to agree to stay in the single market. Meaning that Britain would have to accept all EU “laws”, freedom of movement of people and jurisdiction of the ECJ. Then Britain wouldn't have wasted £1.2 billion on the Galileo positioning system and be welcomed back with open arms. Except for the opt-outs and rebates that will no longer be allowed and the forced settlement of the illegal migrants that the EU did nothing to stop getting in. And, since Britain is doing so well economically, it can expect to be told to resettle tens of thousands. The least useful ones.

I, at least, have sent a message to the Prime Minister saying, “No”. There are some lovely benefits in prospect. There are, I understand, about 40 countries now keen to sign trade agreements. Some may be those “rolled over” from the EU. Some will be with countries that have wanted to have little or nothing to do with the EU. That means more trading “partners” than those in the EU. We can keep about £40 billion. We can treat EU nationals like any other migrants. We don't have to listen to a foreign political “court”. We can have all our waters and fishing grounds back. We can work on re-establishing ties with 52 countries of the Commonwealth. There doesn't actually seem to be a downside. We can “manage” with much the same situation that we “managed” with for a thousand years. Back in the 18th century, Napoleon tried something he called the “Continental System”. The EU is just trying the same thing. And the EU is failing. It can't keep up. The “future” is out in the world.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 05:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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The Voice
Conquerer, all we have to do is stand steadfast against the Quislings and their acolytes for a little while longer. Lead by BLiar, Clegg the liar, and a motely collection of no accounts it shouldnt be a problem.
Apr 27th, 2018 - 07:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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DemonTree
All you have to do is keep your heads buried in the sand a little longer and pretend you can have anything you want just by wishing for it.

And you wonder why I think most Brexiters are fools...
Apr 28th, 2018 - 04:02 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
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The Voice
Many of us have had our heads buried in the sand since 1973 and two years ago we woke up and decided to take our country forward ourselves, free of the shackles applied by unelected Brussels bureaucrats.

Hopefully Club Med, Poland and Hungary will follow our lead and all the whining twerps that want to remain will exit our shores to what renains of the EU and leave us to prosper in peace.
Apr 28th, 2018 - 04:44 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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DemonTree
No, you fell for a trick because you prefer wishful thinking to an uncomfortable reality. And now you're busy making yourself look a fool by demonstrating your ignorance of what a customs union is, not to mention a truly startling lack of common sense.
Apr 28th, 2018 - 07:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
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