Displaying items by tag: Brexit

Research has found that the number of British nationals emigrating to other EU countries has risen by 30% since the Brexit referendum, with half making their decision to leave in the first three months after the vote. Approximately 380,000 British nationals already live in Spain, where the biggest jump in migration occurred. Germany has seen 31,600 Britons naturalising there since the referendum. These increases in numbers are of a magnitude that you would expect when a country is hit by a major economic or political crisis. Half chose to leave the UK quickly, possibly indicating an increased level of impulsiveness, spontaneity, and corresponding risk-taking.

Brexit talks have stalled over a series of key issues; neither the UK and EU has shown any willingness to make concessions. The future of British fisheries has remained one bone of contention since the start of the talks, as the EU continues to demand access to UK waters at the end of the transition period. Tim Bale, the deputy-director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, suggested Boris Johnson is unlikely to give in to EU demands because of their ‘symbolic’ importance. It’s all about the slogan that won the referendum, ‘Take back control’.

On 22 July transport secretary Grant Shapps said that the United Kingdom wants a Brexit free trade deal with the EU, but is prepared for a no deal. A spokesman for Boris Johnson said later that day that Britain remains committed to agreeing the outlines of a balanced trade agreement with the EU, but significant differences between the two sides remain. Talks on a future relationship, which are now in their fifth round, have all but stalled. Some companies fear that there will be disruption at the end of the year if the two fail to secure a trade deal. Mr Johnson’s spokesman said, ‘We will make sure that we’re prepared for all possible scenarios.’

The European Court of Justice has rejected a crucial EU-US data sharing deal that could have serious ramifications for the relationship between Europe and Britain. Thejudges rejected the Privacy Shield agreement between the bloc and the USA. The tool is used by thousands of firms to protect Europeans’ personal data when it is transferred across the Atlantic. The agreement prompted complaints amid privacy concerns about the United States’ surveillance watchdogs. As part of the post-Brexit future relationship talks, the two sides want to establish an agreement to enable smooth flows of data after the transition period expires in December. The UK has fully rearranged the EU’s procedures into national law, but has a controversial track record in mass surveillance. In 2018 a European court ruled the UK had breached human rights protections in its mass surveillance programmes.

Post-Brexit access to UK waters for EU fishermen is a major hurdle to a trade deal between the UK and Europe. Michel Barnier had a private dinner with UK’s Brexit negotiator, David Frost, at Downing Street on 8th July. It is believed they discussed UK’s fishing rights over a meal of halibut and asparagus. The meeting comes after it emerged Mr Barnier had told a House of Lords select committee in June that the bloc could water down its stance on fishing if the UK also agrees to compromise. The UK insists British fishing boats have priority as it pushes for a new scientific approach based on how many fish are in domestic waters. If both sides dig their heels in on their positions there will be no discussion on fisheries, and therefore no agreement on trade.

Brexit talks started in earnest on 15 June with an online meeting between Boris Johnson and EU leaders. There are only six months left to negotiate, sign and seal the UK's future relationship with its biggest and closest trade partner, but the talks have all but stalled due to disagreements on fisheries. Politicians and business leaders in the UK and Europe are calling for negotiations to be prolonged in the light of the pandemic. The UK originally had until June to extend the transition period, but now a statement says that the EU and UK plan ‘to intensify the talks in July and create the most conducive conditions for concluding and ratifying a deal before the end of 2020: this should include, if possible, finding an early understanding on the principles underlying any agreement.’

David Frost, Britain’s trade deal negotiator, has warned the Cabinet that Brussels talks are heading for collapse. He told ministers to ‘take the moral high ground’ when speaking to their counterparts across the Channel in the face of Brussels stubbornness. He urged them to step up their ‘no deal’ planning in case talks over a new trading arrangement break down. Downing Street is preparing to issue warnings that the UK is heading for an ‘Australia-style deal’ - which in reality means tariffs on imported and exported goods under World Trade Organisation terms. Boris Johnson is expected to tell the EU27 to set new rules for their negotiator Michel Barnier, otherwise any hopes of a deal fade. If progress is not made at the next online UK-EU negotiators meeting there is talk in Whitehall of a British walkout. A senior Government source said, ‘Breakdown is entirely possible.’

Currently, Britain will remain under EU’s rules until 31 December, but the withdrawal agreement allows for a one- or two-year extension if both sides can reach an agreement by 30 June. This gives both sides more time to negotiate a trade deal after talks were halted due to the coronavirus crisis. EU diplomats expect the Prime Minister to ask for a delay, but Downing Street remains resolute in its bid to complete Brexit by year end. Any delay would require a new treaty - another lengthy divorce deal. A Flextension for an extra few weeks was ruled out by Brussels, enraging Brexit supporters. The IMF said that the UK and the EU should not ‘add to uncertainty’ by refusing to extend the period to negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal: see

Britain has legally entered a 'transition period', and is free to pursue trade deals with other countries immediately while hammering out terms of future EU relationships. Boris Johnson said that Britain will not obey Brussels rules to get a trade deal while Brussels demands that the UK give access to fishing waters. They are on another collision course. Before trade talks can begin in earnest they must agree a negotiating mandate, spell out their red lines and be finalised by early March. Meanwhile, trade tensions rise as the UK hires more patrol boats to keep out EU fishing fleets ahead of a potential showdown over access. Pray for the 40 officials, called 'Taskforce Europe', leading negotiations for the UK. They are led by one-time business lobbyist and diplomat David Frost, who will negotiate directly with Michel Barnier. In April/May UK trade talks with the EU and other nations are expected to intensify even more. See also

The UK economy was reported as being close to turning point on eve of leaving EU. Confidence is rising three and a half years after the Brexit vote but the tight timescale for a trade deal could harm recovery.

Britain’s economy is close to a turning point as the country prepares to formally leave the EU after almost half a century of membership, according to a Guardian analysis of economic news over the past month.

More than three and a half years after voting to leave, the UK will formally depart on Friday with the economy close to stalling point following repeated cliff-edge deadlines and intense political uncertainty over the country’s future trading relationships with the EU and other countries.

In the Guardian’s final Brexit watch before the exit date, warning lights were flashing with zero growth forecast for the final three months of 2019 amid intense political uncertainty, rounding off the worst year for growth outside of a recession since the second world war. Speculation had been rising that the Bank of England would cut interest rates on Thursday to reboot growth on the eve of leaving the EU.

However, there are also early shoots of recovery from a surge in business confidence since Boris Johnson’s unexpected decisive election victory, which could tempt the Bank to leave borrowing costs on hold at Mark Carney’s final rate-setting meeting in charge at Threadneedle Street. Carney will stand down in March to be replaced by Andrew Bailey.

To gauge the impact of Brexit on a monthly basis, the Guardian has been monitoring eight economic indicators over the past three years, along with the value of the pound and the performance of the FTSE 100.

City economists made forecasts for seven of those barometers before the data was released, and in six cases over the past month the outcome was better than expected, raising hopes that Britain can rebound from a period of lacklustre growth.

Read more from the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/30/brexit-uk-economy-close-to-turning-point-on-eve-of-leaving-eu

The World Prayer Centre, Birmingham, UK have initiated a Call to prayer – on 31st January and during the forthcoming transition phase. The invitation to followers of Jesus across the nations is to continue to call on the name of the Lord for His will, His kingdom and His perfect purposes and plans for the UK nations and our Continent to be outworked.

We believe that God works everything for His good – and so we come humbly and repent for what has gone wrong in the whole process of the last 3 years and ask for His mercy and His heart to start the process of rebuilding (Psalm 127.1)

We believe we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation - so we ask for a fresh desire to arise within each follower of Jesus to be a messenger of comfort, peace, hope and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)

We believe that we are asked to pray for those in leadership – so we ask for Boris Johnson and all in the UK governments/assemblies for God’s wisdom and direction especially regarding the transition talks (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name
We believe in God the Father almighty creator of heaven and earth
We hallow (honour) Your Holy name over the UK Nations
We hallow (honour) Your Holy name over every European Nation

We pray for Your Kingdom to come
In and through the transition period discussions between UK and EU
In and through all trade talks with other nations

For Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Through our leaders: Boris Johnson and the UK government
Michael Barnier and the EU team
In our relationships with all the Leaders of the European nations

Give us today our daily bread
We pray for reconciliation at every level in our society
We ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on His church
We ask for continued and growing freedom for the Gospel across all of Europe and for continued and growing freedom for the Bible to be read across all the nations

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Lord, have mercy on us as a UK nation
Lord, have mercy on us as Your church
Lord, have mercy on the EU
Lord, have mercy on every nation in Europe

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
Bring into the light those with evil intent of division and destruction
We pray for peace on our streets
Bring into the light those whose intent is greed and manipulation
Bless all the work of the peacemakers.

For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and for ever
We pray that Your name will be glorified
We pray that millions will come to know Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life
We bless every nation with the blessing of Your Shalom peace
You are our rock, we look to You, we trust You.

Amen.

Ian Cole, World Prayer Centre / IPC Senior Advisor

More: https://www.worldprayer.org.uk/Event/call-to-prayer-brexit-31-january

Also Pray for wisdom for the Bank of England and the European Central Bank as they steer the economies and manage interest rates.

Pray for economic stability for the region and that the anticipated boosts to trade will transpire for the UK.