Alasdair Sandford

World News

Brexit: Will battle for control of fishing rights torpedo trade deal?

There are signs that the ongoing tussle over access to fishing waters could blow up into a major conflagration at Thursday's EU summit.

15 October 2020

Europe

Can the state subsidy row blocking a EU-UK trade deal be resolved?

Some experts believe there is scope for compromise over one of the main sticking points holding up a post-Brexit agreement on future ties.

14 October 2020

United Kingdom

Brexit trade talks: UK must 'put cards on table', says EU's Michel

The UK PM responded by saying London was 'ready' for negotiations to fail, with time running out for an agreement to be struck.

7 October 2020

Europe

Brexit trade talks: How badly do Europe's exporters need a deal?

Many major European exporters to Britain have sounded cries of alarm on the urgent need for a new post-Brexit free trade agreement.

28 September 2020

Romania

Romania: Judicial reforms 'contrary to EU law' — ECJ legal advice

This case concerns the Bucharest government's appointment of an interim Chief Judicial Inspector and the creation of a prosecution department with exclusive oversight of judges' offences.

23 September 2020

United Kingdom

Brexit: Johnson compromises with MPs to head off revolt over bill

The move may cut little ice with the EU, which wants the UK to ditch the plan to override the Brexit divorce deal, breaking international law.

17 September 2020

United Kingdom

Biden to UK: No US trade deal if Irish peace deal is Brexit 'casualty'

The US presidential candidate's warning comes amid international dismay at the UK government's plan to overrule parts of the legally-binding EU divorce deal.

17 September 2020

World News

State of the Union: Key takeaways from Ursula von der Leyen's speech

The speech to MEPs setting out the Commission's priorities comes as Europe faces huge challenges including the pandemic, the economy, migration, climate change and Brexit.

16 September 2020

United Kingdom

Brexit: Is Boris Johnson justified in breaching international law?

The UK government says its internal market bill which would override part of the Brexit divorce agreement, breaching international law, is an "insurance policy".

14 September 2020

United Kingdom

Brexit bill to override EU divorce deal passes first parliament hurdle

MPs backed Boris Johnson's controversial Internal Market Bill which breaches international law by a majority of 77 but a potential rebellion looms.

14 September 2020

United Kingdom

'How can UK be trusted?': ex-PM May slams Brexit plan to break treaty

The former prime minister's intervention came as the UK government admitted a new bill on post-Brexit Northern Ireland arrangements contravene international law.

8 September 2020

World News

Brexit trade talks: What is the difference between deal and no deal?

Failure to strike an agreement would mean a rupture in UK-EU relations, bringing trade friction, weaker security ties, and an end to many other mutual arrangements.

8 September 2020

World News

'If you leave the club there are consequences', EU's Michel warns UK

The head of the European Council has defended the EU's stance and called for calm amid heightened tensions in the post-Brexit trade talks.

8 September 2020

United Kingdom

EU warns no Brexit deal if UK breaks 'international law' on N. Ireland

The UK government has imposed a mid-October deadline for reaching a trade deal with the EU, while downplaying reports it plans to override divorce deal terms on Northern Ireland.

7 September 2020

United Kingdom

Brexit trade: Border chaos warning piles pressure on UK government

The UK logistics industry wants urgent talks over inadequate Brexit border plans, warning of "severe" trade disruption unless the government gets its act together.

4 September 2020

United Kingdom

English Channel migrants 'forced onto boats' to make perilous crossing

Dan O'Mahoney, charged with stopping the sea journeys from France to England, says many migrants are at the mercy of smugglers and unaware of their destination.

3 September 2020

World News

Brexit: UK 'not seeking clean break from EU at all', says Barnier

The EU's chief negotiator says UK demands for 'benefits without obligations' are unacceptable and would cost thousands of European jobs and livelihoods.

2 September 2020

Belarus

Belarus: Evidence of abuses grows as protesters march on government

Hundreds of protesters have been released from detention in Belarus but many have described how they were beaten, abused and tortured in captivity. On Friday many protesters marched to the government building in the capital, Minsk.

14 August 2020

World News

TUI says Travel in 2021 'very promising' despite massive 2020 losses

The travel operator said bookings for next year are up 145%.

13 August 2020

Belarus

Belarus crackdown: Women form human chains in 'solidarity' protests

The authorities reported 700 more arrests on Thursday amid mounting fears for the fate of thousands of detainees in the election aftermath.

13 August 2020