Irish PM: Anyone hoping EU solidarity will falter is in for a nasty surprise
Irish Premier Leo Varadkar has said anyone hoping that EU solidarity with Ireland will falter on the Brexit border backstop is “in for a nasty surprise”.
EU
Aspiring Communities Fund hands out £2m to tackle inequality and poverty
Community groups in the Highlands and Islands are being given more than £2 million of European funding for projects to tackle poverty and inequality.
Proposed changes to EU copyright finalised by decision makers in Brussels
The components to controversial copyright changes have been finalised by EU decision makers in Brussels, which could transform what people are allowed to share online.
Hauliers warn they face going out of business ‘overnight’ in event of no deal
Haulage firms could go out of business “overnight” because of a lack of permits which may be needed in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a trade association has warned.
Businesses seek ‘clear answers’ over trade after Brexit
A leading business group has warned that firms are being “hung out to dry” because of the continued uncertainty over a no-deal Brexit.
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe blasts EU over ‘stupid’ taxes
Ineos founder and Brexit-backer Sir Jim Ratcliffe has slammed the EU over expensive regulations and “stupid” green taxes he claims are choking Europe’s chemicals industry.
Digital copyright reforms move a step further after approval of text
Controversial copyright law reforms that could affect what people can share on websites like YouTube have moved one step closer to becoming a reality, after EU decision makers agreed on changes to the text.
Daimler profits hit by trade war and Brexit uncertainty
Daimler has reported a significant drop in its profits for 2018, despite revenues rising by two per cent to £147bn.
Juncker stands by Ireland and ‘vital’ backstop
Ireland will not be left alone in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the European Commission president has said.
EU ‘rejects merger by Alstom and Siemens rail operations’
European Union authorities have decided to reject a merger between the rail activities of France’s Alstom and German firm Siemens, the French finance minister has said.
Another outcome to Withdrawal Agreement not realistic – Dutch foreign minister
The Dutch foreign minister has said another outcome to the Withdrawal Agreement is “not realistic” during a visit to the Irish border.
Actor Christoph Waltz slams Brexit ‘clowns’
Christoph Waltz has said he is in a state of desperation over Brexit and called leading Leave campaigners clowns.
No 10 hits out at EU’s ‘unacceptable’ claim Gibraltar is a British colony
Downing Street has clashed with Brussels over its description of Gibraltar as a “colony”.
Britain to benefit from EU-Japan trade deal for just 57 days
A deal expected to boost trade between Europe and Japan by almost 36 billion euros (£31bn) a year and save EU companies up to one billion euros (£900m) a year in duties comes into effect on Friday.
May takes the backstop back to Brussels: Here’s what the papers think
Perspectives and views on the latest Brexit developments differ in Wednesday’s papers – with one calling it “Theresa’s Triumph” while others suggest the battle has just begun.
No-deal Brexit would knock 4.25 percentage points off Irish GDP
The Irish economy could be around 4% smaller in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Irish Finance Minister has said.
Facebook told to ‘pick up pace’ against fake news
Facebook has been criticised for not acting quickly enough in the fight against fake news and lacking transparency on its progress.
Google offers anti-meddling tools ahead of EU elections
Google is giving political organisations in Europe free access to tools that tackle online attacks and disruption ahead of upcoming EU elections in May.
Probe into ‘Brexit effect’ on Aberdeen council services staff
A survey is being carried out into which council services in Aberdeen could be affected if staff members from the EU leave the UK after Brexit.
MP writes to north-east firms over Brexit worries
A north-east-MP has written to businesses in his constituency to provide an update on the Government’s plans for a no-deal Brexit.
No-deal Brexit could see return of soldiers to border, Irish premier warns
The Irish premier has warned that soldiers may return to the border if Brexit goes “very wrong”.
EU imposes sanctions on Russians accused of Salisbury Novichok attack
The European Union has imposed sanctions on Russians blamed for the Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury as the bloc steps up its action against the use of chemical weapons.
Who has to apply for settled status and how will the scheme work?
The majority of the 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK will have to apply to the Government’s settled status scheme if they wish to remain in the UK after June 2021.
Theresa May to brief Cabinet on cross-party Brexit talks
Theresa May is to hold a conference call with senior ministers as she prepares to tell MPs how she intends to proceed following the defeat of her Brexit plan.
Labour willing to have ‘intelligent’ Brexit conversation with PM – Watson
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said the party has a duty to talk to Theresa May if she is prepared to enter into an “intelligent conversation” on Brexit.
Europe prepares for no-deal Brexit
European Union nations are spending millions, hiring thousands of workers and issuing emergency decrees to cope with the increasingly likely possibility that Britain will leave the bloc on March 29 without a plan.
Merkel: We still have time to negotiate on Brexit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said there is still time for negotiations between the European Union and Britain over its departure from the bloc.
Onus on Westminster to find Brexit solutions, says Varadkar
The onus is on Westminster to find solutions to the Brexit impasse which the EU and Ireland can accept, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
EU ‘in no mood’ to renegotiate Brexit deal, says Irish Foreign Minister
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney says the EU is no “no mood” to change the Withdrawal Agreement significantly after Theresa May’s defeat in Westminster on Tuesday.
Brexit defeat: Papers react after May’s deal suffers ‘historic humiliation’
A “historic humiliation”, “fighting for her life” and “Brextinct” are some of the ways the papers describe Theresa May’s “crushing” Commons defeat and what lays ahead for the Prime Minister.