EU and the UK
date: 05/05/2017
European Commission approves draft negotiating directives, the next step in Article 50 process
The European Commission has sent a recommendation to the Council (national ministers) to open the Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom. It includes draft negotiating directives. This legal mandate follows the adoption on Saturday (29 April) by the European Council (national heads of state and government) of political guidelines. Michel Barnier, European Commission chief negotiator for the Article 50 negotiations with the UK, said "We are on track to make sure that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union happens in an orderly fashion. This is in the best interests of everyone. As soon as the UK is ready, we shall start negotiating in a constructive manner."
Michel Barnier's speech
Eurobarometer survey shows overwhelming UK public support for EU role in emergency response
The European Commission has published the results of a Eurobarometer survey of public attitudes to the EU's role in emergency response. 83% of UK respondents felt it important that the EU funds humanitarian aid activities (compared to 88% of EU respondents) and almost 9 out of 10 (89%) UK respondents said it was important that the EU helps to coordinate the response to disasters in the EU.
Navigating Brexit – labour mobility between the UK and the EU
On 2 May, the Institute of Directors hosted a discussion on the future of labour mobility between the UK and the EU. Iain Duncan Smith, former Work and Pensions Secretary set out some principles for controlling immigration but facilitating it where necessary for the economy.
Professor Jonathan Portes from King's College London set out four possibilities for Brexit and argued that all of them were hard. The different options he suggested were: chaotic, cliff-edge, transition to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules or transition leading to a deep and comprehensive trade agreement.
Julia Onslow Cole from PWC talked about businesses being very anxious including about high-skilled migrants. She suggested regional visas for regions which have a huge need for migration.
Giving a few options, Helen Smith, immigration lawyer, said the post Brexit immigration system needs to be cheap, quick, all skill levels, adaptable, transparent and fair, a route to permanent residence, streamlined and digital. She added that companies make location decisions based on access to talent and therefore on immigration systems, and that EU companies use the UK as a springboard to the US, which should not be jeopardised.
Dr Hayatun Sillem, Royal Academy of Engineering, talked of the need to work with stakeholders to predict staff shortages in the labour market. Dr Sillem explained that even under the existing system, annual shortfall in personnel supply is expected to be 20.000 per year until 2024.
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