Canada, US join the "Don't do it!" chorus
Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined the camp of international leaders that urged Britain to stay in the EU, reports EUobserver…His statement was reiterated by the US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, who also fretted over the consequences of Brexit in a CNN interview published on Thursday (19 May). "The membership of the UN will be gathering in prayer and support for the Yes vote in advance of that vote next month," the Irish-born US diplomat said: https://euobserver.com/political/133489
EUobserver also reports that a survey by the Creative Industries Federation, which will be published on Friday, shows that 96 percent of members of the creative sector want to remain in Europe: https://euobserver.com/political/133489
Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York, visiting London, joined the chorus of business leaders calling for Britain to remain in the European Union Thursday, reports Politico: http://www.politico.eu/blogs/spence-on-media/2016/05/michael-bloomberg-warns-on-brexit/
In an interview with EU Trade Insights, the director general of the Confederation of European Businesses, Markus J. Beyrer, reiterated the lobby's commitment to keep the U.K. in the Union and highlighted how 80 percent of British businesses oppose Brexit, reports Politico Morning Trade: https://dub129.mail.live.com/?tid=cmo9tBLlEe5hG09QAhWtc_MA2&fid=flinbox
Welsh Secretary of State Alun Cairns on Thursday said that staying in the EU is vital if a buyer for the suffering Tata steel plant in South Wales is to be found, reports Politico Morning Trade. "Although there are no guarantees, our membership of the EU makes our chances of gaining that buyer and of defending our industry much stronger. Access to the EU market is fundamental to any steel manufacturer," he said. Wales Online: http://bit.ly/25c6FLv
Former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling on Wednesday reiterated IMF and Bank of England warnings of recession following a possible Brexit, the Belfast Telegraph reports. "Economic insecurity of the type being forecast would be disastrous for working people's life chances and living standards," Darling said in a speech to the Confederation of British Industry. "Recent experience and historic evidence shows that when our economy suffers this kind of serious damage, insolvencies, repossessions and unemployment, particularly among young people, all soar." Belfast Telegraph: http://bit.ly/25c6RKG
Brexit would deliver a further blow to the already ailing Finnish economy, increasing discussion and speculation of whether Finland should try its luck outside the euro, reports Nordea Nexus: https://nexus.nordea.com/#/article/26753
Britain's right-wing populists will not stop at Brexit - they want control of the Tory party and thus the country. Their ideological, unempirical world view provides few solutions to the problems facing the UK, according to a paper from the Centre for European Reform: http://www.cer.org.uk/insights/ideologues-within
EU interior ministers are expected to approve on Friday an "emergency brake" that would allow member countries to temporarily suspend visa-free travel for non-EU citizens, reports Politico…There are four countries in the process of securing visa-free travel to the Schengen area [of which the UK is not a member]: Georgia, Ukraine, Kosovo and Turkey. So in theory, 125 million people could arrive in the EU for a short visit, a prospect that terrified some member countries, who wanted a safety net: http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-to-back-temporary-halt-on-visa-free-travel-migration-refugee-schengen/
Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the UK on Thursday in the Hague set up a special task force to crack down on migrant smuggling networks in the North Sea region, reports EUobserver. The four, along with the EU's judicial cooperation agency Eurojust, want to better coordinate their police efforts: https://euobserver.com/tickers/133492
The deadline to transpose a new tobacco products directive into national law passed Friday, reports EUobserver. So far, 10 EU countries have notified the EU commission of transposition. The rules include a ban on menthol cigarettes by 2020. Earlier this month, the EU Court of Justice confirmed the directive is legal: https://euobserver.com/tickers/133486
The European Commission has started publishing summaries of ongoing trade defense investigations, which are accessible at DG Trade's trade defense website, reports Politico. "With the ongoing steel crisis, we need more engagement between the Commission's trade defense services and everyone concerned, including small businesses who struggle with unfair imports," said European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström. "With these new tools to improve two-way communication, we hope for more contributions to help us better address the industry's legitimate concerns": https://dub129.mail.live.com/?tid=cmKqA6Qbgd5hGNNGi1mbaz7g2&fid=flinbox
EurActiv reports that German and French trade ministers have presented a set of common proposals for improving Europe's Trade Defence Instruments (TDIs). Blocked since 2014, TDI reform is now urgently needed in response to Chinese dumping in the steel sector. EurActiv France reports: http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/germany-and-france-team-up-to-tackle-chinese-dumping/?nl_ref=13297223
The EU and China representatives have at a roundtable discussion reiterated the need for direct participation of EU in the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the entry of China into the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), reports Politico: https://dub129.mail.live.com/?tid=cmPXRizMYd5hG8LAAjfeQWGg2&fid=flinbox
Brazil's new administration wants to review and upgrade the Mercosur trade bloc and its planned trade agreements with the EU, U.S. and Japan, new Foreign Minister José Serra said Wednesday, reports Politico Morning Trade: https://dub129.mail.live.com/?tid=cmo9tBLlEe5hG09QAhWtc_MA2&fid=flinbox Full interview (video): http://bit.ly/22hmwTL
A group of [European Parliament] lawmakers have called on the EU to adopt a new agricultural strategy that puts agriculture at the heart of European society and responds to the strategic challenges of the 21st century. EurActiv France reports: http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/meps-call-for-a-complete-rethink-of-the-cap/?nl_ref=13297223
The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, on Thursday said she expects the EU's economic sanctions against Russia to be extended in June for another six months, reports Politico Morning Trade. "The EU leaders coupled the lifting of sanctions to a full implementation of the Minsk agreement," Mogherini told German newspaper Die Welt. "This has not been achieved": https://dub129.mail.live.com/?tid=cmo9tBLlEe5hG09QAhWtc_MA2&fid=flinbox
The European Union on Thursday (19 May) beefed up sanctions against North Korea over nuclear and ballistic missile tests carried out in defiance of United Nations resolutions, reports EurActiv: http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-increases-sanctions-on-north-korea/?nl_ref=13297223