Shell invests in Mina West gas development in Egyptian Mediterranean Sea    Egypt's FM highlights 'soft power' in Mali meeting with alumni    Egypt's foreign minister opens business forum in Niger, targets new partnerships    Egypt's FM delivers Al-Sisi message to Niger's leader, seeks deeper security ties    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU is not ‘the enemy' and Brexit talks are ‘constructive,': UK FinMin
Published in Amwal Al Ghad on 17 - 10 - 2017

Britain's finance minister denied that negotiations between the U.K. and the European Union were deadlocked and said it was clumsy to call EU negotiators "the enemy."
Philip Hammond told CNBC on Monday that he didn't think the talks had stalled between the two sides, raising the prospect of "no deal" scenario at the end of the U.K.'s two-year Brexit negotiating period, in March 2018.
"The real interests of the parties are so blindingly obviously in the best interest of both the U.K. and the European Union 27 (the other countries in the EU) that we do reach a deal so that we can carry on trading together," he said, adding, "but I'm confident we will get to a deal."
Despite Hammond's confidence, the two sides appeared to reach an impasse recently over unresolved issues, particularly over the so-called "divorce bill" with uncertainty around the extent of the U.K.'s outstanding financial obligations to the EU.
The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said last week that other issues including the Northern Irish/Irish border and EU citizens' rights have yet to be spelled out in detail by the U.K. either. As such, there had not been enough progress to move onto the next stage of talks — specifically, a trade deal between the U.K. and EU which is what Britain wants to focus on.
Hammond caused controversy last Friday after he branded Brussels "the enemy" during an interview in Washington, a comment he later apologized for. Speaking to CNBC in the U.S., where he was attending meetings at the International Monetary Fund, Hammond said that it was a clumsy comment and insisted there was a "constructive" relationship with negotiators in the EU.
"Actually the relationship is very constructive (and) I talk to my European counterparts all the time. What I was doing rather clumsily in Washington was trying to make a reference to the infighting on our own side and that we need to leave that behind ... But the relationship is good, it's a positive relationship."
Hammond said that the negotiation process, rather than its substance, was the problem.
"So the biggest sticking point of the moment is process. The European Union have decided on a process to follow. And it's become apparent that that process isn't going to facilitate the most effective negotiation," he said.
"I think there are people on both sides that say ‘let's break out of this, let's just get round the table and start looking at what the options are to move forward about a transition period about a long term trade deal' rather than being locked in this rigid sequence that we have to settle one thing before we start talking about the next," he said.
Ahead of the U.K.'s referendum on EU membership in June 2016, Hammond campaigned to remain in the political and economic bloc leading many ardent "Brexiteers" in the U.K. to accuse him of trying to sabotage the talks now.
Talks have further to go but look likely to be a hard-fought slog for U.K. negotiators, with many believing that they're dealing with an EU team that do not want to make exiting the Union an attractive prospect for other members. Hammond said that the U.K. was preparing for the eventuality of not reaching a deal, including the possibility of a customs border and trade tariffs.
"We don't think it's going to happen but we will be ready by March 2019. Just in case that's the outcome," he said.
Source: CNBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.