Britain can rejoin EFTA in order to access the EU’s single market - Norway

Britain can rejoin EFTA in order to access the EU’s single market - Norway

World Unknown   05:49

It has once again be emphasized that if all efforts to keep Brexit Britain in the EU single collapses, the UK could still be allow membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a stop-gap measure.

Three member countries of EFTA: Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland have all indicated their readiness to welcome the UK into their organisation, which enjoys single market access, in the event of divorce proceedings with Brussels breaking down.

Though if such becomes the case, it would only be used as a transitory measure by the British government, due to the fact that EFTA member countries are made to adhere to EU free movement and some EU regulations.

This measure is made to also ensure that Switzerland and the other three members of the club, maintain their close friendship with the UK which is one of their major trading partner.

EFTA member states are permitted by to enter into trade deals with as many countries they want to enter trade deals with, which EU countries are not to do.

Therefore, if that becomes the situation, the British government would be able to have sufficient time to draw out a strategy for its future economic plan, to enter into a new trading talks with EU.

Liechtenstein's foreign minister Aurelia Frick in his address stated that: "Solutions to soften the landing should be available to us. When the EU is negotiating the divorce from the UK, it automatically means a divorce from the EEA-EFTA countries as well.

"We are not ordinary third countries, but the EU's closest partners and friends.”

According to Ms Frick EFTA countries were "not first thing on the EU's mind when dealing with Brexit", but said they were "in the same boat" as the rest of the continent when it comes to what ties Britain decides to retain with the EU.

Also in a tempting message to the UK she said: “As a minister, I try to raise awareness about the EEA and the fact that it's actually functioning very well.

“In a time of populism and globalisation critics, we should be very happy that we have unexciting integration politics.”

Also speaking, Norway’s EU minister Frank Bakke Jensen said he was “open-minded” about the UK returning to a club it actually helped found in the 1960s, and which it belonged to before joining what was then the Common Market.

He said: "The EEA agreement has proven it is viable, useful, possible to adapt to an ever changing landscape and still relevant for us.

"Our relationship with the EU is a dynamic relationship. When EU changes its laws and agreement we do the same. We are working on this every day.

On Britain, he added: “The initiative would have to come from the UK. For the moment, the question is not on the table.”

Norway’s political elite has repeatedly tried to persuade voters to sign up to full EU membership, but they have twice rejected such a move first in the 1970s and then again in 1994. 

EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

World Unknown   05:39

It is becoming apparent everyone in Brussels is now fully ready for the mother of all negotiations to kick start almost immediately after the UK’s general election coming up in June.

According to sources in Brussels the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier has proposed June 19 as the beginning day of the Brexit talks that will formerly lead to Britain’s exit.

Once the proposed date is confirmed by the European Commission on Monday, the newly elected Prime Minister will be engaged in the Brexit hot seat to save the country’s future as demanded by the British people.

"The 19th (of June) is tentative, because Britain cannot confirm anything until after the elections," one official involved in the Brexit negotiation process said.

"The 19th is the earliest date they can envisage."

Information about the proposed date comes a day after EU Exit Secretary David Davis made it known to Daily Express that the PM had shown the Government "means business" and will not put up with "silly games" by Brussels if she returns to Downing Street after the general election. Where it was also warned that a "tense period" was ahead in the negotiations.

The Brexit Secretary also slammed the notion that Britain could be forced to pay up to £85billion to leave the EU.

In previously unpublished remarks from his Daily Express interview, the EU Exit Secretary said: "Picking numbers out the air doesn't work. I'm not going to do the negotiation in public anyway.

"What is plain is that the period of paying over vast sums of money into the EU is coming to an end - that is the most important thing."

He added: "We have said we will talk to them. We will meet our obligations. One of our great reputations globally is that we meet our obligations whatever they may be.

"We're going to have a very careful look. The numbers you see banded around, they are not legal obligations.

 "It is not in our interests to treat our allies badly, but on the other hand it's also not in our interests to hand over a load of taxpayers' money."

On the other hand, the EU chief negotiator told the Commission leaders at the beginning of this month that securing the rights of all EU nationals living and working in the UK and the divorce bill be given priority during the negotiations. Which he believes could be concluded between October and December.

All things being equal, if the proposed timetable is adhered to, both parties would begin talks on the future trade relationship.

Mr Barnier has proposed that his face-to-face talks with Mr Davis will be held in four-weekly cycles.

Week one would be all about preparations by the remaining 27 governments and the European Parliament and the second to an exchange of documents with Britain. While week three would be for negotiations, where EU officials would be expecting their UK counterparts to come over to Brussels for the week - and the fourth to report the results to the 27 governments and the European Parliament and prepare the next round of talks.

Scottish MEP condemns EU for threatening Britain over Brexit

Scottish MEP condemns EU for threatening Britain over Brexit

World Unknown   09:19

The European Parliament has come under and serious attack from a Scottish MEP David Coburn as they threaten to punish Britain for choosing to leave the union.

The MEP told his EU colleagues that Britain would be far better outside the bloc’s “socialist paradise” to contribute to the Continent’s financial markets. He also lambasted the French president elect for saying that there would have to be “consequences” for Britain as it leaves the EU.

Addressing an audience in Strasbourg, Mr Corburn said: “We hear the new French president and his Macaroons want to draw bankers from London and the EU wants to stop London clearing euros.

“These ladies and gentleman are not realistic threats. There is so much hot air from Mr Macron he could power a Montgolfiere!”

The Scottish MEP also said: “The EU should recognise even the socialist utopia, like the EU, is a properly functioning financial market.

“London’s pre-eminence in global finance could service this EU more easily from outside your socialist paradise.

“The UK has all of the attributes that could make it the EU’s best friend. But, instead, we are told by Macron that voting for Brexit is a crime that the UK must be made an example of so that no country considers leaving.”

Mr Coburn concluded: “He may be taking his orders from German Chancellor, but what sort of club is the EU that can only maintain…”

The Scot’s tirade was cut short by the chair of the parliament’s economic and monetary affairs committee.

However, during his speech in parliament on Wednesday, Michel Barnier reiterated the bloc weren’t seeking to punish Britain.

The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator said he had no intention of ending up without an agreement between the EU and UK.

Michael Barnier assures the Irish people that Brussel with work hard to protect their interest post-Brexit

Michael Barnier assures the Irish people that Brussel with work hard to protect their interest post-Brexit

World Unknown   08:52

Delivering his speech to both houses of the Irish parliament yesterday, Michael Barnier again reassured the people of Ireland how he try his possible best to avoid a hard during Brexit.

He used the moment to also acknowledge saying: "I am fully aware that some member states will be more affected than others.

"I want to reassure the Irish people: in this negotiation Ireland's interest will be the Union's interest ... Brexit changes the external borders of the EU.

"I will work with you to avoid a hard border."

In addressing both houses of parliament, Mr Barnier was given a privilege normally only afforded to visiting heads of state and prime ministers, joining luminaries like Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.

He further stated that there was no reason why the EU and Britain cannot maintain a "strong relationship" post Brexit, but Brexit will unavoidably have costs.

Resounding comments made last week, Mr Barnier said Brexit would "come at a cost" to both the UK and the remaining 27 members of the EU, but his objective was to reach a "fair deal" with London.

Mr Barnier said: "If we put things in the right order, if we negotiate with mutual respect, without any kind of aggressivity ... if we are open to finding solutions, there is no reason why a strong Europe cannot maintain a strong relationship with the UK."

Knowing that Brexit poses particular issues to Ireland, he said: "I want to reassure the Irish people: in this negotiation Ireland's interest will be the union's interest.

"We are in this negotiation together and a united EU will be here for you."

He repeated the EU's position that the issue of the UK-Ireland border, citizens' rights and "the financial settlement" must be the first priorities for talks.

"We first must make sufficient progress on these points before we start discussing the future of our relationship with the UK.

"The sooner this will happen, the better.

"If the conditions are right, a close partnership with the UK is in everybody's interest. And in Ireland's interest in particular."

A barrister in France launches legal action against Brexit, saying it is illegal

A barrister in France launches legal action against Brexit, saying it is illegal

World Unknown   10:21

More trouble stirs in the atmosphere as a French legal expert files a legal action to prove the illegality of the Brexit Referendum

Several British nationals residing in France who were restrained from voting during the referendum as a result of the ’15-year’ have been spoken to by Julien Fouchet, of Cornille-Pouyanne avocats based in Bordeaux, with respect to have such a decision might have affected their lives and rights.

The barrister claimed he is not against Brexit, however, he is of the opinion that another referendum should be organised, so that all British adults can participate.

He said: “A lot of people have explained their situation – that they have been in France a long time and could not vote, and they encouraged me.

“Now, I’ve been writing to them all and I have explained that if they want to help as much as possible they could take legal action with me; but I’ve not had much response to that so far.

“People have given their experiences but don’t necessarily want to go to court.”

He also said: “Personally I am doing this out of European solidarity, not to enrich myself."

Nevertheless, he is likely to face a hard task in trying to convince the General Court of the EU to accept his case.

In the meantime, he said he is preparing an English translation of his letter that he will also be sending to those who got in touch to help clarify the French legal terms.

The EU will be digging their own grave, if they failed to reach a deal with the UK – Professor Minford

The EU will be digging their own grave, if they failed to reach a deal with the UK – Professor Minford

World Unknown   08:02

An economist analyst has warned the EU that failure to reach a deal with the UK could result to an overwhelming recession within the continent, reason being that the UK has an upper hand in the Brexit talks billed to commence June.

Professor Patrick Minford speaking further, also predicted that due to the huge debt owed by Greece, the recession would collapse due to colossal fall in tourism and tariffs imposed on the country’s exports.

Because of the fear of losing other member nations, the EU is pressing towards a ferociously hard hard Brexit negotiations in order to protect the union.

Speaking to express.co.uk he said: “The people who have got the most to lose from not having a deal with the UK are the Europeans.

“They are going to do themselves a lot of damage. They’ve just come out of recession, they don’t need a recessionary shock like this any more than one needs a hole in the head.

“The banking system there is as rickety as hell and they are stuffed to the gills with government debt.

“The whole situation is very fragile and it just needs a shock pushing it back into recession to make it quite a mess, and the euro would fall in those circumstances.”

Also in his conclusion, he stated that: “So all this talk of punishing Britain is very silly and very immature. This really looks like an own goal from their point of view.”

Speaking further, he said: “The Greece problem isn’t going away, but it’s not getting any worse for now.

“But a blow which knocks their exports is potentially quite a recessionary impact and the particular impact in Greece could be very significant because it’s always teetering on the edge of chaos because of the way they’ve treated it.”

Prof Minford, who does not believe any other countries will leave the EU said: “If we don’t get a deal with the EU we’ll be in a perfectly good position as we’ll simply free trade with the rest of the world.

“For them the big problem is actually that we go to no deal and we have free trade with the rest of the world.

“They will find this is a very competitive market indeed and they will sell far less in it because stuff will be coming in from the rest of the world without those protectionist barriers.”

Saying the election of Emmanuel Macron was a good thing for the Brexit talks, he added: “We do want a strong Europe, we’d like them to sort themselves out. It’s not in our interests to have them falling apart at all.”