Brussels finalising plans to side-line Britain from multi-million pound contracts

Brussels finalising plans to side-line Britain from multi-million pound contracts

World Unknown   07:50

In an attempt to bring fulfil the some of the anticipated threats planned against the UK as after voting to leave the bloc, it has been reported that Brussels is beginning to deliberately shut out British firms from taking part in multi-million pound contracts, even as they make efforts to dissuade companies away from Britain.

According to the report, leading European Commission officials have told staff to avoid “unnecessary additional complications” with Britain before 2019, an internal memo seen by the Financial Times has found.

In the same vein, the frantic appeal for EU major players have told staff to encourage UK-based private businesses to get ready for the “legal repercussions” of Brexit and the need “to have an office in the EU” once Brexit talks are concluded in order to maintain their operating permits.

As if that is not enough, report also has it that some agencies are being threatened of being disconnected from delicate databases the same day formal exit is done by the UK.

One week after the Prime Minister, officially invoked Article 50, there was a note sent from the commission, which spelt out how the UK out on cash and influence, despite retaining legal rights and obligations of formal membership.

The agencies involved in the commission were cheered to “take account” of the fact Britain may be a “third country” within a period of two years, including when appointing staff and awarding contracts worth billions of euros for research projects or services.

The note read: “Apart from the legal requirement for a contracting party to be established in the EU, there may be political or practical reasons that speak in favour of contracting parties established in a specific member state, not only at the conclusion of the contract, but also throughout the duration of the contract.”

The note which was allegedly sent by senior staff and signed by Alexander Italianer, the commission’s secretary-general; Martin Selmayr, the president’s chief of staff; and Michel Barnier, the EU’s Brexit negotiator.

It comes as Brussels chiefs said there will be no freeze on EU spending through structural or regional funds, as these are implemented through UK authorities rather than the EU.

The note added: “In the absence of certainty about arrangements (if any) for a future relationship, commission services and decentralised agencies should start considering the practical aspects of disconnecting access from non-public databases hosted by EU bodies.”

Agencies should brace themselves for bumpy Brexit negotiations, the note hinted, and that Britain may be cut from shared EU information such as crime-fighting and asylum databases.

The battle line seem to have been drawn as the UK government insists on keeping two major EU agencies in the country

The battle line seem to have been drawn as the UK government insists on keeping two major EU agencies in the country

World Unknown   07:24

Contrary to previous report credited to Brussels that EU leaders are perfecting plans to move two major European banking and medical agencies, based in London to other EU member state capital, the British government have come out to say that both agencies could stay in Britain post-Brexit.

The counter claim was made by Brexit Secretary David Davis when he announced that the agencies in question is open for negotiation, a move which contradicts the claim earlier credited to the EU for their relocation.

According to a spokeswoman for the Brexit department: “No decisions have been taken about the location of the European Banking Authority (EBA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), these will be subject to the exit negotiations.

“As part of these negotiations the government will discuss with the EU and member states how best to continue cooperation in the fields of banking and medicines regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.”

Thus the Brexit Secretary is making moves to include the agencies to the wider Brexit talks in readiness to shift grounds where possible just to keep them in the UK.

The Government spokeswoman added: “It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations.”

During last month’s draft plan for negotiations by Brussels it was said that preparations should be made to transfer the agencies to one of the remaining 27 nations after the UK leaves.

An EU official previously stated: “The EMA and EBA both have to go to a member state. There are many interested member states. There is a broad understanding that it is something that you need to move quickly on.”

The EMA boasts 900 highly skilled staff and is responsible for the “scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU”. While the EBA, which was set up in 2011, has 159 staff at its London office, also at Canary Wharf.

Meanwhile, Mr Tusk’s draft negotiating guidelines he made clear Britain has no say, and added: “Arrangements should be found to facilitate their transfer.”

Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Milan, Stockholm, Barcelona and Dublin are all bidding to host the medicines agency and there may eventually be up to 20 applicants.

Currently Frankfurt and Paris are in the running to host the EBA.

European Union big wings poised to frustrate Britain, by threatening to strip the UK of two major agencies

European Union big wings poised to frustrate Britain, by threatening to strip the UK of two major agencies

World Unknown   09:11

In their bid to frustrate the efforts being made by Theresa May to strike a balanced deal in the Brexit negotiation, EU leaders are perfecting plans to strip Britain of two key EU agencies in the weeks ahead, and dismissed the PM’s request for early Brexit trade negotiations.

The loss of the London-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) and European Banking Authority (EBA) became unavoidable because Britain voted to leave the EU as both agencies are basically linked to the single market.

However, the swift manner in which the EU leaders moved immediately after the triggering of Article 50 by the PM is perceived by the public as an indication of the uncompromising stand being taken by Brussels.

Accordingly, a number of major cities within the union are lining up to welcome both agencies and EU Council president Donald Tusk is expected to unveil the  selection criteria within the next two weeks.

Record has it that EMA and EBA each employ about 1,000 people, many of them British, and provide a hub for businesses in the UK.

The EU’s chief negotiator has also expressed hopes that the two agencies will know their new locations by June, although it was also made known that the process may take longer time.

Cities such as Dublin, Frankfurt, Milan, Amsterdam, Paris and Stockholm have all lined up to play host to the agencies which are considered as among the EU’s crown jewels.

Moreover, it has been told how Britain has failed to convince any of the remaining 27 member states that trade talks should get under way early.

The failure to convince the 27 member states also endorsed as diplomats have agreed with the European Commission’s decision to block any talks about a future comprehensive trade deal until the UK accepts its £60bn divorce bill and comes to a settlement on the rights of EU citizens.

Mrs May hoped hardline European council guidelines ruling out a trade deal within two years would have been toned during consultation with the member states.

Sources from Brussels are  claiming that Britain’s aggressive approach to the talks, including threats of becoming a low-tax, low-regulation state unless it was given a good deal, had backfired.

One Brussels insider told the Observer: “However realistic the threats were - or not - they were noticed.

“The future prosperity of the single market was challenged. That had an impact – it pushed people together.”

Still in that regard, another senior diplomat said any initial sympathy with Britain had fallen away in many capitals, because of the Government’s approach towards Brexit.

He said: “Of course, we want to protect trade with Britain, but maintaining the single market, keeping trade flowing there, is the priority, and so we will work through Michel Barnier.

“Britain used to be pragmatic. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore and we need to protect our interests.”

European Union heading towards a serious collapse as various groups form alliance

European Union heading towards a serious collapse as various groups form alliance

World Unknown   06:17

With the look of things it appears some countries in the EU may also consider their exit after Brexit-Britain. This is because too many things are beginning to cause division among member states, top among such cause is immigration.

To further buttress this assertion, some member states numbering seven tagged “Southern EU Countries” met in El Pardo Palace in Madrid, Spain. A move seen by many as flex of muscles.

Also, countries made up of the Iberian nations like France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta met and released the outcome of their meeting demanding that EU nations need to “share responsibility and solidarity” Also putting a demand for Northern countries to have their share of the EU immigration quota

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said a common migration policy was one of the top priorities for the group, and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni declared the seven Southern European countries share “common geopolitical interests,” especially in terms of “migrant flows.”

Spain’s secretary of state for the EU Jorge Toledo said: “We’re the countries that spend the most resources… in border protection and we’re protecting the border of the whole EU, also that of the Northern European countries.”

Saying that, that will put the group on collision course with East European nations in the bloc, especially the Visegrád countries – Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic - who are far more Eurosceptic, more negative towards mass immigration into the EU and against a centralised EU.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said in the past: “We have to return to the thesis that the member states and not EU institutions form the basis of the EU.

“The democratic features of the EU can only be strengthened through member states.” Saying clearly that he will not take part in any idea of allocating migrants who arrived the EU.

In a similar vein, the Visegrád group has also been at loggerheads with those countries advocating a more integrationist and centralist direction of the EU.

Meanwhile, those championing for a close integration want a single European budget, a European treasury, a common foreign policy and a single defence force and security organisations.

Southern EU countries, in turn, want to liberalise the EU borrowing rules and allow great flexibility, which especially appeals to the beleaguered countries of Italy and Greece.

In his days as the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi said: “More growth and more investment, less austerity and less bureaucracy, this is the line we have proposed for two years.”

Also internally within member states local politics has sown huge apple of discord, for example, the                                                                                                                                  right-wing parties such as France’s Front National and Germany’s anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), let alone the likes of the Dutch Party for Freedom and Italy’s 5 Star Movement - collectively seen as populist parties - who want to keep the EU at arms length, invariably leaving the bloc altogether.

Jayne Adye, Director of cross-party Eurosceptic campaign group Get Britain Out, said: “It has been clear for some time the EU is divided about almost everything. Divided about the Euro, divided about the EU’s direction of travel and divided about immigration. Some want more EU, most want less, and Britain wants no EU at all.

 “The Visegrad countries don’t want to accept any more refugees, while Southern Europe is demanding it.

 “The Germans want the Greeks to pay back their debt in full, but the IMF believes there should be a reduction in Greek debt. Greece is refusing to settle as they are completely fed up with austerity – so there will be a summer of discontent.

 “These are only a few of the problems.

 “A critical flaw within the EU is the pretence all EU countries are exactly the same. In the absurd belief all EU countries have the same culture, history and political views. But they are not - and they do not!

 “Since the turn of this century the EU has enlarged at a rate of knots, including countries which have totally different ideological views than the original members. As a result, the EU has split into different factions, constantly arguing about the EU and its future.

 “It is clear, however, the EU currently does far too much. Perhaps if it abandoned its plans for a European ‘superstate’ and transformed to a simple trading relationship, the countries of Europe would get along far better in the future.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel turns up to Britain to help defeat increasing terrorists attack

German Chancellor Angela Merkel turns up to Britain to help defeat increasing terrorists attack

World Unknown   06:16

Confusion in Germany as Chancellor Angela Merkel look up to the United Kingdom for security aid to combat the increasing terrorists attack in her country. The move according to report has instigated the anger of Germany’s security chiefs.

Merkel’s approach concerning the security issue has angered the German spies, because she they feel they are not being trusted enough to be able to deal with the situation. According to a reliable source: "In 12 years she has not once attended one of the weekly security briefings for her government.

"Why does she travel to England then? Does she not trust her own people anymore?"

It was reported that former PM David Cameron made the arrangement that brought about the meeting she had intelligence chiefs at Chequers in October 2015. Present in that meeting were Andrew Parker of MI5, Alex Younger, chief of the global foreign intelligence service MI6 and GCHQ's Robert Hannigan.

Surprisingly, it was revealed that the German authorities had no knowledge of the gathering where Mrs Merkel gave the UK a report from her own BND foreign intelligence agency a report which has details about President Putin and the situation in Crimea by way of thanks for their briefing.

British and German spymasters have had soured relationship lately, due to the doubt London has developed against Berlin, saying it cannot be trusted with intelligence reports.

At a time of escalating Islamic terror threats across Europe the German BND is being frozen out by GCHQ and the NSA in America.

Accordingly, both London and Washington believe insecure German data servers have led to the leaking of tens of thousands of classified documents to the Wikileaks whistleblower platform.

They also refuse to hand over secret intelligence data demanded by left wing and Green politicians in Germany which they fear will be aired in parliament.

A source said: "It has now reached the point where there is virtual radio silence between the two biggest and most important intelligence services of the western world and the BND of Germany.

"Germany is worried because it needs the umbrella protection of these agencies. It is virtually blind without it."

Michael Barnier accused by EU businessmen for delaying their time on striking a trade deal with the UK

Michael Barnier accused by EU businessmen for delaying their time on striking a trade deal with the UK

World Unknown   08:09

Business leaders from the EU member nations lambasts Barnier for going into a sluggish trade deal with the United Kingdom.

This was made known by a top figure from a leading engineering firm based in France, as businesses are being forced to hold on as Barnier slowly leads the EU on Brexit negotiations with the UK.

Also speaking was Laurent Viatte, director of marketing and development at Spirax Sarco France, as he was joined by European wine producers who together said lack of EU negotiations could possibly make UK purchasers to look elsewhere for their products instead of the European continent.

Speaking to Yvelines Television, Mr Viatte said: “We’re firstly worried about the effect on the exchange rate, which could impact our purchasing power, which is hugely important in England.

“Secondly, we are worried about the customs union and our ability to access the European market.

“We’re effectively waiting on Michel Barnier, who will negotiate in the interests of Europeans within the framework of an agreement.

“We’re waiting to see whether free trade of goods between the UK is going to continue as normal, which would limit the impact on our business between France and the UK.”

They accused Michael Barnier and his colleagues from the EU for being reluctant in discussing future trade deals with the UK, as they keep insisting for the UK to pay the huge divorce bill before any deal on trade could be reached.

It has been said that should the two years end without any deal being reached by both parties, there could be queues of Lorries at Dover.

He said: “The price of greatness is responsibility. When a country leaves the union, there is no punishment.

“There is no price to pay, but we must settle the accounts. No more, no less. We will not ask the British to pay a single euro for something they have not agreed to as a member.”

His reluctance to negotiate is also biting hard on Italian wine makers who are fearful of their future. They believe if the EU does not strike a deal UK purchasers will favour products from the Commonwealth region, where they are likely to strike a deal quicker.

Speaking to AFP, Cesare Cecchi, director of Italian firm Famiglia Cecchi wine cellar, said: “Clearly the level of taxation is a crucial element because if it increases the price of our wines too much, I mean European ones, they won’t be able to compete with other types of wine.

“Honestly, I am very concerned, above all because of the uncertainty.”

The Italian said firms “have to hope” Brussels can reach a successful conclusion to trade talks with the UK Government.

Mr Cecchi added: “We have to hope that good common sense prevails.

“Don’t forget the UK exports over two billion euros of spirits to Europe.”

Alex Canneti, of Berkmann Wine Cellars, a British wine wholesaler, said he had warned his European counterparts of the potential dangers.

He said: “I warned the Italians, we may have bilateral treaties with Commonwealth countries like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

“That will be pretty quick after the two-year negations with Europe.”

Angela Merkel makes strategic moves to ensure the safety of Germans after last Friday’s terrorist attack in Sweden

Angela Merkel makes strategic moves to ensure the safety of Germans after last Friday’s terrorist attack in Sweden

World Unknown   06:38

Due to the increasing rate of terrorism across major countries of the world, and Europe in particular, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel has released a plan to increase personnel in Germany in order to ensure the safety of all Germans.

Merkel’s address came earlier Saturday after a terrorist used truck to kill four people and got 15 others injured in Stockholm, Sweden on Friday.

The security strategies were laid during a local meeting of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Grimmen.

During her address, Merkel drew out plans to increase security personnel all over the country with the aim of her country people from petty crimes and other terror outbreaks.

She said: "A state must be responsible for its interior and exterior security.

"We know that many people are shaken in their confidence at the moment, whether it's just from burglaries or from terror attacks.

"That's why it is important that we provide more personnel; that's why it's important that we respect security forces."

She also made a call to all foreigners coming to begin a fresh life in Germany to abide by strictly to the country’s values.

Saying that obeying the country's laws was not enough and that people must also follow the national way of life. She also stressed in strong tone that, the country’s values cannot be compromised.

She explained: "Integration means that our values, not just our laws, but also what is derived from these laws - tolerance, freedom of religion, freedom of press, and respect for the others - are practiced in our daily life.

"That's why Germany must again and again make sure that everybody who lives here adhere to this.

"There is no compromise and we have to be clear on that."

The German Chancellor never ended her speech without condemning the President of Turkey on his controversial flare-ups lately.

The Turkish President in recent times have been making provocative statements by calling German MPs "Nazis" and condemning politicians in the Netherlands and France.

The verbal war started after rallies calling for a referendum that will give more powers to him were cancelled in Europe.

Thus, Mrs Merkel condemned and said that the Turkish President had acted in an "absolutely unacceptable" manner.

She then reminded her audience that she was against Turkish membership of the EU in 2005, and that "this position has not changed".

The German leader added: "I was among those people who have always said that Turkey should not become member of the European Union, despite that fact that almost everybody thought that Turkey should become member of the European Union.

"We need a privileged partnership, not a membership."

Conservative MEP reveals that EU free movement into the UK may continue after 2019

Conservative MEP reveals that EU free movement into the UK may continue after 2019

World Unknown   08:36

With the likelihood of Britain opting for a transitional period with the EU, a Conservative Member European Parliament Ashely Fox has predicted that EU migrants could still be permitted to move freely into Britain with full rights after 2019 when negotiation is expected to end.

On the other hand, it was agreed that freedom of movement would at last come to an end due to the PM’s determination to have a clean break from the EU.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “It is likely we will have an implantation phase.

“The Prime Minister has said we will recover control of our own borders. That means an end to the freedom of movement.

“But, whether that occurs in two years or three years, I think is a matter of negotiation and I trust the Prime Minister’s judgement when it comes to negotiating the terms of that settlement.”

Mr Fox’s remarks reverberate those made by the Prime Minister, who risked a hostile response on Monday after declining to rule out free movement during an “implementation phase”.

Speaking to journalists during her Brexit tour of the Middle East, the Prime Minister said: “Once we’ve got the deal, once we’ve agreed what the new relationship will be for the future, it will be necessary for there to be a period of time when businesses and governments are adjusting systems and so forth, depending on the nature of the deal.”

Any transitional deal is expected to least until at least 2022.

The latest attempt not to cut-off free movement faster is also likely to anger Leave voters, who campaigned vigourously to take back control of immigration in Britain.

Paul Nuttall, the leader of Ukip, said the Prime Minister’s current decision not to specify an end date “sets alarm bells ringing”.

He said: “By voting to leave the EU, the British people asked the government to reduce the high levels of immigration that see a city the size of Hull and Newcastle come to the UK each year.

“The fact that the Tories won’t even specify how long the period of open-door immigration will continue after we have left the EU sets alarm bells ringing.”

Britain slam Brussels with huge bill in retaliation to divorce fee demand by EU leaders

Britain slam Brussels with huge bill in retaliation to divorce fee demand by EU leaders

World Unknown   11:36

Theresa May fires a hard one against the European Union, as Britain look forward to getting back refunds running into billions of pounds from the EU instead of paying billions tagged exit fee, as demanded by Brussels,

According to a source from the UK government, the country is fully ready to hit back with the counter demand, should Brussels brings up a stringent exit bill

"This is being presented in a binary way as a divorce bill, in which we owe them," the source said.

"It's not like that - it's more like leaving a gym or a club.

"You don't continue to pay for other people to use the facilities after you leave."

In a similar vein, a Downing Street spokesman states that: "That will be something that will be dealt with during the negotiation."

Recent legal advice from the House of Lords stated that Britain was not obliged to pay a penny in a “divorce” settlement to the EU under international law. However, the EU’s chief negotiator is understood to be preparing to demand the cash when the talks begin in earnest this summer.

Some government officials are of the opinion that Britain could end up being refunded about £9 billion which is being held by the European Investment Bank. The said amount is based on an estimate of the present worth of British taxpayers’ investment into the EU’s institution.

Similarly, separate study has advocated that Britain could be entitled to a further £14billion worth of EU assets including property, cash and other investments.

Tory MP David Nuttall described the move to prepare a register of the estimated share of EU assets as "sensible."

"I would expect that they will be doing this.

"There has been a lot of speculation and rumours. It seems to be to be perfectly sensible," Mr Nuttall said.

"We have been paying into this organisation for years. Clearly, the EU has assets.

"If they are going to start saying we owe them money for all these things, it seems common sense that we should be able to ask what about all the assets that we have helped to build up in the past.

"We should sweep that to one side and say honestly, these back of the envelope calculations do nobody any good."

Henry Newman, director of the think tank Open Europe, said the balance sheet "must consider not just the UK’s commitments, but also its share of EU assets and claims".

Potential assets for the UK could include a proportion of EU buildings such as embassies and administration headquarters, future spending earmarked for the UK and loans, Mr Newman said.

"Theresa May has - rightly - accepted the principle that both sides should settle their outstanding commitments.

"But while we should agree a methodology for doing this early on, there's no way any British PM could agree to signing a blank cheque at the start of negotiations," he added.

A month ago, Boris Johnson advised the Prime Minister to implement her predecessor Margaret Thatcher's approach to financial wrangling with Brussels.

“I think we have illustrious precedent in this matter: I think you can recall the 1984 Fontainebleau summit in which Mrs Thatcher said she wanted her money back and I think that is exactly what we will get," the Foreign Secretary said.

Many Euro-sceptic Tory MPs have argued that Britain should avoid getting sucked into a wrangle over exit payments or refunds. They believe that both parties should accept a clean break with no payments in either direction other than those for existing payments such as pensions and salaries for officials.

Spain has promised not to hinder independent Scotland from joining the EU

Spain has promised not to hinder independent Scotland from joining the EU

World Unknown   08:32

After several rumours had been carried out saying that the Spanish government would not allow independent Scotland to join the EU, if it eventually breaks out of the rest of the UK, a new report has emerged that Spain will not stand as an obstacle to Scotland if it decides to retain membership of the EU. This was made known by the Spanish Foreign Minister, due to the diplomatic row between the UK and Spain because of Breixt with respect to Gibraltar.

Alfonso Dastis said during an interview that, Scotland’s efforts to join the EU would not be rejected by the Spanish government.

This was made clear to the general public, because in recent times, people have always seen Spain as a hindrance to the desire of Scotland to join the EU after Brexit, if it eventually gains independence, as a way of discourage separatists emerging in Spain.

Asked whether Spain would reject an independent Scotland joining the EU, Mr Dastis told Spanish newspaper El Pais: "Initially, I don't think we would block it.”

He stated that Scotland will leave the EU with Britain, adding “the rest we will see”.

He stressed an independent Scotland would have to follow the formal application process of joining the EU.

The foreign minister said: "Having said that, if, in application of its laws, the outcome of that process is a division of the United Kingdom, any part of the United Kingdom that becomes a state and wants to join the EU will have to apply. And follow the steps that are stipulated.”

On the other hand, he also stressed that Spain remains opposed to an independent Scotland, Mr Dastis told the Guardian: "We don't want it to happen. But if it happens legally and constitutionally, we would not block it."

In his reaction to Dastis comment, a Scottish Government minister Michael Russell hailed Mr Dastis remarks, saying they will help to end "misinformation" about Spain's position regarding Scotland and the EU.

Mr Russell, further told BBC Scotland thab: "That has been the position of the Spanish Government for some considerable time.

"All the speculation about what the Spanish Government would or wouldn't do has been wrong.

"I very much welcome it because it equates with reality."

Also Stephen Gethins described it as a "significant intervention" by Spain's foreign minister.

He said: "We can be now absolutely clear - there is no intention of a 'Spanish veto' over Scotland's EU membership.

"This is just the latest indication from a senior European diplomat that an independent Scotland would be welcomed into the EU after Lord Kerr this week said that we'd be in 'very fast'.

"EU countries want to be constructive with Scotland and will respect the democratic will of the Scottish people if we choose to be independent."

Any prospective application to the EU can be vetoed by any member with Spain previously suggesting Scotland would be at the "back of the queue" to join the European Union if it achieves independence.

It comes as Spain goes head to head with Britain over Gibraltar during Brexit talks. 

More countries beginning to rebel against the EU’s forceful migration quota for member states

More countries beginning to rebel against the EU’s forceful migration quota for member states

World Unknown   08:04

More troubles seem to be looming ahead against the European Union as Britain prepares to leave. This is due to the way in which the leadership of the EU imposes asylum seekers against the wish and willingness of member states, more so, countries in Eastern Europe.

As a result Hungary is now beginning to revolt against the union’s immigration policy, as the government sends letters to each household to know if they would accept the government placing foreigners under surveillance.

The government under the leadership of Viktor Orban has prepared questionnaire, titled “Let’s stop Brussels!”, is now asking what the Hungarian government should do if Brussels permit “illegal immigrants” to freely enter the continent.

The country is taking this precautionary measures due to the numerous terrorists attack across the European Continent, as it asks "what Hungary should do" as "despite a series of recent terror attacks in Europe…Brussels wants to force Hungary to let in illegal immigrants".

The options are: "Illegal immigrants should be kept under supervision until the authorities decide in their cases" and "We should allow illegal immigrants to move freely in Hungary".

According to Bence Tuzson, a senior government official, he stated that: “Big decisions and struggles lie ahead of Hungary in the coming period. Hungary can only win those struggles if it feels the support of the country.”

The public assessment, part of the “National Consultation 2017” initiative started by Prime Minister Orban’s right wing government, follows the introduction of new laws allowing the indefinite detention of migrants in container camps.

The government is also building large scale border fences to stop North African and Middle Eastern refugees from just walking into the country.

Last October, 98% of those who went to the poll chose to reject the EU’s migrant allocations in Hungary, however, the election was nullified because there was a turnout of just 42%.

Non-governmental organisations are spared in the questionnaire as Hungarians are also being asked for their opinion on NGOs, that the government feels are backing illegal migration and want to undermine the country’s sovereignty.

In 2015, it also launched a 'National Consultation' campaign, asking households about "immigration and terrorism".

But that questionnaire was deemed to be xenophobic by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, which was “shocked” by its content.

Portuguese MEP told Britain to accept freedom of movement or forget any deal

Portuguese MEP told Britain to accept freedom of movement or forget any deal

World Unknown   07:08

Battle line drawn, as EU Parliament vice chairman Paulo Rangel told British Prime Minister that the only pre-condition to any deal is for the UK to allow freedom of movement.

He called on other EU leaders not to compromise their “fundamental principles” as negotiations begins with the UK, saying Brexit is a “sad news”

There is this fear among EU leaders that if the UK is offered a trade agreement it will give them a “free ride” on the single market while using its new-found freedom to undercut the EU in global markets.

Though Mr Tusk has offered the carrot approach, the European Parliament will still have the power to reject the terms and send leaders back to the negotiating table.

In a uncompromising caution, Portuguese MEP Mr Rangel said: “This is a sad day and sad news for the European Union.

“We have to move on, to build relationships with the United Kingdom. We cannot give up our fundamental principles – the four freedoms are non-negotiable.

“We have to keep our message very, very clear. If the United Kingdom wants to build a relationship that is sound and good with the European Union, it must respect our fundamental principles.”

The issue of Gibraltar, has given Mrs May a second Brexit blow after it emerged Spain has secured a powerful veto over Gibraltar’s participation in any future deal between the EU and the UK.

In a massive political victory for Madrid, the other 27 member nations have agreed it will be able to block any trade treaty secured with Britain from applying to the Rock, potentially starving it of access to the single market.

The clause, buried deep in the EU’s negotiating guidelines issued today, will provoke outrage in Whitehall and worry amongst the tiny enclave’s population, which is heavily reliant on trade with Europe.

Spain has repeatedly tried to claim ownership of Gibraltar despite fierce opposition from its 30,000 inhabitants, who have expressed their desire to remain British.

Lib Dem MP Tom Brake said: “Confirmation that Gibraltar’s future must be agreed by the UK and Spain shows just how damaging the Government’s ‘hard’ Brexit will be on this strategically important British territory.

“Theresa May must urgently product a plan that protects the citizens of Gibraltar, including their businesses and communities.  It is our obligation to support our overseas territories, and any attempt to brush off the importance of this issue is a dereliction of duty by the Government.

“Only the Lib Dems are fighting against ‘hard’ Brexit, and to keep the UK’s place in the single market.”

Brussels insists that the UK must settle divorce bill before negotiations can take place

Brussels insists that the UK must settle divorce bill before negotiations can take place

World Unknown   06:19

Against all insinuations from certain quarters, EU leaders seem to have made a “carrot offer” to the United Kingdom saying if a trade agreement could possibly be reached before the end of Brexit negotiations, provided the UK agrees to pay up the divorce bill allotted to it. And there is enough positive headway.

According to the Brexit guideline set out by Brussels, Britain must show some level of seriousness by first of all paying up the divorce bill and also ensure EU nationals living in the UK are protected, before any meaningful negotiations can begin.

Donald Tusk while working out strategies stated that: "Once and only we have achieved sufficient progress on the withdrawal can we discuss the framework for our future relationship.

"Starting parallel talks on all issues at the same time, as suggested by some in the UK, will not happen."

According to Tusk, these four areas on interest must resolved first. They are: the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and UK citizens in Europe, the Brexit divorce bill, which has been put at €60bn (£52bn), the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic and clarity over EU law in the UK after it leaves.

He used the moment to urge the UK to honour financial commitments they were involved in before they voted to leave the EU.

On the other hand, speaking during chat with Sky News, the Maltese president, Joseph Muscat, who holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union said the final bill need not be calculated before trade talks but there must be agreement on how it is worked out.

According to the EU guidelines, a “transitional” deal is also one of the options opened for negotiations. Saying, this is only possible if Britain would be ready to keep applying the EU’s rules, which involves: contribution to budget, abiding under ECJ, and perhaps allow freedom of movement.

Mr Tusk also promised there would be "no punitive approach, Brexit is punitive enough".

But then he warned Theresa May not to pick off countries independently to negotiate in a divide-and-rule approach and should negotiate "only with the 27 as a unity".

Negotiations are expected to start on May 22.

Speaking as he arrived for a NATO summit in Brussels, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "We really are moving forward now, and there's a lot of goodwill, a lot of willingness to achieve what the Prime Minister has said she wants to achieve, which is an orderly transition and then a deep and special partnership between a strong EU and a strong UK."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the guidelines showed "the strength of the EU in these negotiations and the carelessness of the UK Government in isolating themselves from our European allies".

A Government spokesman said: "It is clear both sides wish to approach these talks constructively, and as the Prime Minister said this week, wish to ensure a deep and special partnership between the UK and the European Union."

European Union leaders are considering offering Britain Article 217 status

European Union leaders are considering offering Britain Article 217 status

World Unknown   10:12

Report reaching us has that the Britain may likely be offered similar deal and treatment given to annexed nation of UKRAINE. This offer is being suggested by Guy Verhofstadt, when he stated an association deal between the two parties which is anchored on Article 217 “should be the best solution”.

Warning that treaties cutting up the single market would not be allowed. Saying further that Article 217 association agreement “often replaces a cooperation agreement thereby intensifying the relations between the partners”.

Therefore, if the UK becomes an associate member of the EU, it will be made to pay some kind of membership fee, a move which will repugnant to Theresa May’s clean break up.

Furthermore, the EU top man issued a strong warning to the British PM never to go into any individual deal with any of its members through the back door.

Some countries including France have made it clear that Brexit will bring pains on Britain. This comes as Verhofstadt insisted that the union would not for any reason allow a compromise between security and commerce.

Currently Britain makes the highest contribution to Europol, with 35,000 messages in 2016. Also, the country takes the lead in clamping down on cross-border child sexual exploitation as well as money laundering. With about 40% of cases emanating from Europol having one form of UK involvement or the other.

Veteran Tory MP Tim Loughton told Express.co.uk: “Britain contributes more than any other nation to Europol so can we stop all this nonsense about Britain cutting itself off from information sharing.

“We can have a bespoke relationship with Europol.”

Negotiations are set to get underway immediately and Mr Verhofstadt, from Belgium, said the parliament would accept a three-year transition period.

EU unity threatened once again due to forced migration policies on member states as the UK's exit process begins

EU unity threatened once again due to forced migration policies on member states as the UK's exit process begins

World Unknown   08:43

Pandemonium as leaders from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic known as the powerful Visegrad group, have blamed their colleagues in the EU who known to be eurocrats of making move to intimidate them into submission.

Their anger was unleashed on the EU leaders when it was suggested their aid funding could be likely cut down if they continue to reject asylum seekers under the EU’s compulsory replacement structure.

Austria also is not happy and have expressed their anger against the EU when they announced their intentions to get the country out of the quota system altogether, though EU officials said such a move would be illegal.

This has once again shown that migration policy put in place by the EU is not actually going down well with other member countries, just as the British people complained and demanded for Brexit, so that they can take full control of their borders and law.

Even after EU leaders controversially voted to allocate certain number of refugees to each member states last year, Eastern European nations strongly rose against the move, as most of them refused to any of the quota given to them.

The refusal to honour the quota system has made infuriated EU leaders and MEPs to bring up the idea of cutting the social funding in retaliation against the rebellious nations.

Nevertheless in response the leaders of the Visegrad countries have called for an extraordinary press conference, during which they let rip at eurocrats over its meddling in their migration policies.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło, who is also carry on an extraordinary diplomatic war with the EU over the re-election of Donald Tusk, warned that Eastern Europe “will never accept blackmail and diktat” from Brussels.

Also, the Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka made it clear that all four countries “oppose linking the debate about migration to European funds”.

And Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico fumed: “This is blackmail that we reject in the name of the Slovak government.”

On the other hand, Hugary’s revolutionary PM, Viktor Orban, revealed that his country will begin to detain migrants on camps it has set up on its southern border with Serbia - a plan that which does not go down well with human rights groups. 

He said: “From now on, Hungary is in a position to react even if the agreement between the EU and Turkey does not work. We are able to stop any wave of migrants on the Serbian-Hungarian border.”

The disorder once more threatens to shatter the delicate sense of European unity in the aftermath of the Rome summit, and provides more headaches for Brussels on the day that Britain is set to formally trigger Article 50.

Top EU leaders make frantic moves to entice Mrs May block Brexit, despite triggering Article 50

Top EU leaders make frantic moves to entice Mrs May block Brexit, despite triggering Article 50

World Unknown   07:29

It has been reported that the European Union Parliament is working hard to draft a resolution in response to Theresa May’s formal notice of the UK’s exit from the union.

Though the exact detail of the alleged ploy is yet to be concluded, top MEP have stated that it would stress the PM could still stop the process, if other members of the Union buys in to the idea.

It was also said by Philips Lamberts, the co-leader of the Greens in Parliament’s party that: “We do not want to close the door to common sense.”

Mr Lamberts, a member of the Brexit team, added the resolution will “reference the revocability of Article 50.”

Elmar Brok, a member of Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party, also confirmed such a reference in the draft resolution which is set to be agreed by party leaders and then put to a vote in the legislature next week.

On the other hand, sources claim the bloc's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, had made relentless effort to discourage lawmakers from making obvious reference to halting the exit.

The president of the EU on his part made it clear after referendum that the remaining 27 member nations of the union would agree to allow the UK retain membership if they change their mind not to leave any more.

Former PM Tony Blair in February called on Britons to "rise up" and try to block Brexit if they could.

But that may no longer be entirely in British hands. One senior EU diplomat said of Blair's campaign: "This bus has left."

British nationals in Spain denouncing their nationality for Spanish citizenship

British nationals in Spain denouncing their nationality for Spanish citizenship

World Unknown   09:48

As Article 50 is ready for triggering today, a new report has emerged that several British nationals living in Spain are making frantic effort to get rid of their British nationality in order to become Spanish nationals.

Speaking with journalists, Adele, 55, said: “Many of us feel our world is collapsing, but above all, our future.

“My mother has Parkinson's and she lives with me in Spain as a non-resident. Now, will she have to go back to the UK and live in a nursing home?

“My husband and I run a 45 year full time business in Liverpool. We pay taxes and create jobs. Why should we be punished now?"

Accordingly, a group known as  ‘Bremain’ has been founded by Nicolas Hatton and is making a demand for the rights of British citizens living in Europe to  protected.

Mr Hatton said: “We are not bargaining chips. Theresa May has a responsibility to protect our rights.”

In order to give themselves long term security within the EU territories, many Brits are now denouncing their nationality and claiming Spanish citizenship, defaulting the documentation of their birthplace.

James Maconachie, whose three children were born and brought up with the Castilian accent of Bajo Aragón, where the family lives, said: "I do not recognise my country. I no longer feel English."

When the EU referendum was first announced by David Cameron, only 70 Brits asked to swap citizenship, but that number is now up to nearly 500.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, has come out and said the EU will block any Brexit deal unless EU nationals arriving in Britain in the next two years are allowed to stay.

Theresa May has remained tight lipped on the issue, preferring to negotiate on the issue behind closed doors.

Britain issued with another £86bn bill from the EU

Britain issued with another £86bn bill from the EU

World Unknown   06:08

Despite Britain rejecting the huge divorce fee levelled against it by the EU, another £86bn extra demand has been made by Brussels asking member states to spend fund the union’s controversial army battlegroups.

It appears the EU will is wanting to mount pressure on the British payer for the country to be able to make its own share of the fund, the essence of the fund includes winding up failing operations in Africa, despite Britain preparing to leave the bloc.

EU leaders appears to be so resolute to force Britain to pay for The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The defence report explained that there is "need for deeper discussions on the future relation between the Union and the United Kingdom in CSDP matters, and in particular in the field of military capabilities, should the UK decide to trigger Article 50 TEU".

Notwithstanding the enormous expenditure demands, the EU admits at least one project in landlocked Mali in Africa is failing after three years due to lack of powers.

The report states: "European soldiers are currently prohibited from taking part in military operations as observers, which means that they cannot identify any problems that the units that have been trained may have, and that they are therefore unable to resolve any operational problems at a later stage.

"These units – both in Mali and in the Central African Republic – are being set up for combat operations, and whereas after three years without appropriate equipment and training, as is the case for EUTM Mali, they are nowhere near operational.

"Without the necessary armaments, training missions will only be carried out abroad if the government of the country concerned provides armaments and hardware to the units that they can then continue to use after their training is complete.”

Ukip defence spokesman Bill Etheridge hit out at the plans and said: "Since the declaration of St Malo was signed in 1998 to advance the creation of a Common Securirty and Defence policy an EU Army has been happening - regardless of what you call it.

"Former Commission President Romano Prodi called for an EU Army in 1999, saying it was ‘inevitable’. In the face of all these semantics, perhaps he put it best when he said: ‘When I was talking about a European Army, I was not joking.

“’If you do not want to call it a European Army, do not call it a European Army.

“’You can call it 'Margaret', you can call it 'Mary-Anne', you can find any name, but it is a joint effort for peace-keeping missions - the first time you have a joint, not bilateral, effort at European level.'

"The Lisbon Treaty we signed up to put this on the statue books.

"It is happening and pretending it isn't or that we haven't contributed financially or diplomatically won't change that.

"The UK taxpayer must not pay one penny piece into funding EU battlegroups: the priority for us is to build up our own weakened military and reverse the chronic underfunding of previous governments.”

Mr Etheridge also said Government "must rule out any money from the UK being spent on an EU military, particularly when we have a recruitment and retention crisis in the UK Armed Forces and they are so short of cash they are even trying to cancel secure communications from loved ones to those serving abroad”.

The MEP said the UK "must have no operational role in any EU battlegroups and instead concentrate on meeting our NATO commitments”.

Speaking further, he stressed that: ”Unlike the EU, which admits it has spent three years in Mali achieving nothing, NATO has bite.”

Mr Etheridge urged the Secretary of State for Defence to rule out any aid post Brexit and said there must be no "back door routes keeping us tied into any EU military projects”.

He further said: "The British people voted against an EU military, despite being spun lies that it was not happening - they knew it was and they are vehemently opposed to it.”

"Far from a serious fighting force, this is more of a red herring: quite frankly you see more pirates captured in an episode of Poldark."

EU Chief, Jean-Claude Juncker tag Brexit as ‘a failure and tragedy’

EU Chief, Jean-Claude Juncker tag Brexit as ‘a failure and tragedy’

World Unknown   07:07

More pressures are being mounted on Britain to pay the divorce bill of £50 billion, saying it is not being made to punish Britain, rather is the UK’s share of commitments it also took part in as a member of the EU prior to Brexit.

The latest of such demand is coming from the President of the European Union. Juncker while speaking also described Brexit as "a failure and a tragedy" he however maintained he was not in "a hostile mood" to the UK.

Speaking also on a positive note, Juncker promised that the EU will enter into the negotiations in a "friendly" and fair way, but warned the EU was not "naive".

When asked about the alleged divorce bill levelled against the UK he said: "It is around that, but that is not the main story.

"We have to calculate scientifically what the British commitments were and then the bill has to be paid."

He took a little time to explain that the divorce bill is meant to offset various projects which was agreed by the UK, and also to pay pensions of the union’s officials that worked during the period the UK was a member.

Mr Juncker said: "It will be a bill reflecting former commitments by the British Government and by the British Parliament.

"There will be no sanctions, no punishment, nothing of that kind, but Britain has to know - and I suppose that the Government does know it - that they have to honour the commitments and the former commitments."

On Brexit, Mr Juncker said: "It is a failure and a tragedy."

But he added: "I am anything but in a hostile mood when it comes to Britain. We will negotiate in a friendly way, a fair way, and we are not naive."

The EU chief also announced Brussel’s readiness in protecting the future status of the about three million EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa.

He added: "This is not about bargaining, this is about respecting human dignity.

"We are not in a hostile mood when it comes to Britain, because I do think and I do want to have with Britain over the next decades a friendly relationship."

Mr Juncker also stressed he did not want other EU nations to follow Britain in leaving, warning that would threaten "the end" for the EU project.

"I don't want others to take the same avenue," he said. "Let's suppose for one second that others will leave - two, three, four or five. That would be the end."

EU Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier assures of both parties striking a trade deal

EU Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier assures of both parties striking a trade deal

World Unknown   08:40

Amazingly, a bombshell was dropped on Wednesday by Michael Barnier the Brexit negotiator as he announced how determined the EU is in sealing a “unique” trade deal with the UK within the shortest possible time.

Barnier made the announcement as a big surprise to so many, when he said that such a deal was in the best interest of the EU. His speech has been tagged by some as the most detailed that any senior Brussels figure has given on Brexit.

However, his speech never ended without him expressing areas that he disagreed with Theresa May's declaration that "no deal is better than a good deal" saying a failure to secure a future economic pact would be disastrous for both sides.

Also, after making such a promising and friendly speech, the French politician went on to warn the British Government not to take the EU’s generosity for granted, saying: "We shall be firm, we shall be friendly, and we will never be naive." 

Most of the perceived tensions that came up after the Brexit vote were being put under control, as he stressed that eurocrats were not anticipating the likelihood of Britain falling off a cliff at the end of the negotiations in two years’ time.

He stated that: "A lack of an agreement, a no deal scenario, this isn’t what we want. We want an agreement, we want to be successful, and we’re not just against the British but together with the British.

"That’s why speaking on behalf of the 27 member states I can say we want to reach an agreement on an ordered departure of the UK and lay the ground for a new partnership we will build together with them.

"It’s not too early to sketch out its parameters. At the heart of that partnership there will be a free trade agreement that we will negotiate on in due course. That free trade agreement will be sui generis, it will be unlike any existing one so we need to prepare for that.

"We agree with Theresa May when in her recent speech she talked of a bold and ambitious free trade agreement. Yes indeed, we can share ambition. There is no precedent in European history for such a free trade agreement."

However, he warned the UK there would be no "single market a la carte" and said: "The best possible relationship for Britain is a member of the EU and the second best option is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). We have a duty to these countries as well."

Speaking further, Mr Barnier also maintained that there is no effort to "punish" Britain for leaving the club in any way, but then he said of the plan to hit Britain with a £50 billion exit bill because it had to honour commitments it had already made.

He said: "Each country must honour its commitments towards the others. When a country leaves the union there is no punishment, there is no price to pay to leave.

"But we must settle the accounts - no more, no less. We will not ask the British to pay a single euro for something they have not agreed to as a member."

The address delivered by Barnier has for the very first time made known the unexpected and thorough specifics being incorporated by Brussels into the EU’s Brexit plans, coupled with the fact that common position has been agreed by the remaining 27 countries.

Mr Barnier also the EU was fully ready to strike a reciprocal agreement with the UK, a move which is in line with Theresa May’s position regarding the future of EU nationals in the UK, and vice-versa. This he said will be addressed from the very beginning of the negotiation.

Mr Barnier also said that sorting out the situation in Ireland would be one of his top priorities, reiterating that the EU is determined not to allow a return to a hard border.

He said: "Brexit will have serious repercussions, human consequences, economic, social and political consequences. It’s worth bearing in mind that the lack of agreement will have even more serious repercussions.

"Unity is a first condition in reaching an agreement. It is of course in our interests but it’s also in the UK interests, and I want to say this to our British partners, because at the end of the day we both need a united Europe to reach a deal."

He added: "These negotiations cannot take place in secret. We will negotiate in a transparent and open manner explaining to everyone what we are doing. We must also explain objectively what leaving the European Union means for the country that leaves but also for the other member states.

"We need to tell the truth and we will tell the truth to our citizens about what Brexit means."