EU and the UK
date: 01/12/2017
Michel Barnier at the Berlin Security Conference
EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier spoke at the Berlin Security Conference on 29 November. Mr Barnier outlined the impact Brexit will have on the UK's involvement in the EU's defence and security issues. He stressed that the EU is still waiting for sufficient progress to be made in the UK on the three priorities: citizens' rights, issues relating to the Irish/Northern-Irish border and the financial settlement. Mr Barnier also hoped that the future EU-UK relationship will be an ambitious one with security, defence and foreign policy as key components of it.
Later in the same day and still in Berlin, Mr Barnier addressed entrepreneurs, representatives and facilitators of social dialogue about Brexit's challenges on the occasion of German Employers' Day.
Michel Barnier's full speech at the Berlin Security Conference
Michel Barnier's full speech on the occasion of German Employers' Day
Brexit: European Commission tables legislative amendments for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority from London
On 29 November, the European Commission made two legislative proposals to amend the founding regulations of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA). This follows last week's agreement to move the EMA and the EBA from London to Amsterdam and Paris, respectively. The Commission is acting swiftly in order to provide legal certainty and clarity to ensure that both agencies can continue to function smoothly and without disruption beyond March 2019. Under the ordinary legislative procedure, the co-legislators (the European Parliament and the Council) are expected to give priority to the handling of these legislative proposals.
UK European Consumer Centre offers consumers subscription traps advice
The UK European Consumer Centre has issued a checklist to help consumers avoid being caught by unwanted and difficult to cancel subscriptions. The consumer advice organisation highlighted online purchases of health and beauty products, such as slimming pills, face creams and tooth whitening merchandise as sources of potential problems for consumers. The UK ECC is co-funded by the European Commission and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
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