Bruxelles, Belgium | AFP | Divisions between EU countries could delay or derail plans to overhaul copyright law, an ambition that has set up a battle pitting media firms against internet giants like Facebook and Google. The European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission had planned to meet …
Read More »Brexit: the Irish backstop issue explained
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Keeping the Irish border free-flowing has proved to be the toughest issue to resolve in negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union. The Brexit deal between London and Brussels — overwhelmingly rejected last week by British MPs — contains a so-called backstop provision ensuring …
Read More »What next for Brexit? Four main scenarios
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May presents her new approach to Brexit on Monday, following MPs’ crushing rejection of the divorce deal agreed with the EU. Lawmakers have their chance to submit amendments, which could indicate whether opinion in parliament is shifting towards alternative routes. Here …
Read More »France nears implementation of digital tax
Paris, France | AFP | France will push ahead with its own tax on large internet and technology companies by introducing a bill that would be retroactive to January 1, its finance minister said Sunday. The move comes as the European Union tries to finalise an EU-wide levy. “We are …
Read More »May calls EU leaders on ‘next steps’ for Brexit
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to EU leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk by telephone on Friday to discuss where to go next on Brexit. May had previously been in touch with Brussels only by text message since Tuesday, when the British parliament rejected the divorce deal she signed …
Read More »UK PM May seeks Brexit fix in talks with rivals
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May scrambled to put together a new Brexit strategy on Thursday after MPs rejected her EU divorce plan and demanded that she rule out a potentially disastrous “no-deal” exit. May held individual talks with MPs from rival parties after narrowly surviving a confidence vote triggered …
Read More »UK PM May reaches out to rivals after winning confidence vote
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May reached out to her opponents on Wednesday after narrowly surviving a confidence vote sparked by the crushing defeat in parliament of her Brexit deal. After a tumultuous 24 hours which she admitted voters might find “unsettling”, she conceded the …
Read More »Brexit in dates: From Leave shock to parliament’s historic vote
London, United Kingdom | AFP | From the shock Brexit referendum result to Tuesday’s landmark vote to reject the divorce deal struck between London and the European Union, here are the milestones on Britain’s rocky road out of the bloc after 46 years. – Britons vote to leave – In …
Read More »How Europe reacted to Brexit deal defeat
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The EU and European governments have warned that the British parliament’s rejection of a Brexit deal heightens the risk of a disorderly withdrawal from the bloc. Following are some of the key reactions to Tuesday night’s huge defeat for British Prime Minister Theresa May. – European …
Read More »‘God knows’: Brexit vote leaves Irish border in limbo
Dundalk, Ireland | AFP | In the town of Dundalk near the Irish border, locals reacted with exasperation and concern at news that the British parliament had rejected a Brexit deal with the EU. “God knows what will happen,” said barman Gavin McCann, pulling pints at The Vinegar Man …
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