"Fortress" fears of our neighbours

Ireland's politicians fear their border towns could become the "new Calais" if Britain votes to leave the EU, as migrants could use Ireland as a back door into the UK, Irish EU commissioner Phil Hogan warned Monday. He added it could lead to a "fortress Northern Ireland and fortress Britain", reports EUobserver: euobserver.com/tickers/133383

BREXIT COULD PUT SCOTCH WHISKY EXPORTS ON THE ROCKS: British Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Elizabeth Truss warned that Scotch whisky could suffer if the U.K. leaves the EU, after meeting industry leaders yesterday, reports Politico Morning Agri and Food. The industry depends heavily on foreign trade - 90 percent of the country's whisky is exported: dub129.mail.live.com= cm-IX8Q2wW5hGqjQAhWtfmXg2&fid=flinbox

If UK nationals vote to leave the EU, there would be little effect on the country's European cooperation on space activities. But British companies may lose business opportunities, reports EUobserver: dub129.mail.live.com

At a debate in Stockholm last night on the impact of a Brexit, the discussion was nothing like Cameron versus Johnson. In fact, the organizers couldn't even find a pro-Brexit speaker. The biggest worry was about Sweden losing to the benefit of an EU superpower defending the rights on non-eurozone members, such as Sweden, reports Politico: dub129.mail.live.com

[European] Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan traded his diplomatic offensive for a charm offensive yesterday, reports Politico Morning Agri and Food. He was in Northern Ireland, where he appealed to farmers to back the EU: dub129.mail.live.com

Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallström says [in a Swedish newspaper interview, picked up by Politico] that Brexit is "the ultimate risk for the EU," and that central European countries are coming to their senses on refugees. "I think they realize what the risks are … Today I am less worried about Europe than I was six months ago": dub129.mail.live.com

Despite Great Britain sacrificing some sovereignty to the European Union, its parliament is still responsible for more than 98% of public spending, and has the final say on the majority of policy that voters care about, research published today (9 May) found, reports EurActiv: www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/chatham-house-brexit-will-actually-reduce-british-sovereignty/

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond predicted on Monday (9 May) that Scotland could be independent within two years of a Brexit vote, reports EurActiv. Salmond [speaking in Brussels] went far further than his party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, in predicting a second referendum: www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/salmond-predicts-scotland-could-be-independent-within-2-years-of-brexit/

China should urgently deal with its steel overcapacity problem, the European Union's ambassador to China said on Monday, as the world struggles with weak demand of the material, much of which comes from China. Reuters reports: www.reuters.com/article/us-china-eu-idUSKCN0Y00LK

In preparation for a vote Thursday, MEPs will today debate a non-binding resolution on whether the EU should grant China so-called market economy status (MES) by the end of the year, which would make it more difficult for the EU to impose anti-dumping measures on Chinese exports such as steel, reports Politico Morning Trade: dub129.mail.live.com

Germany recorded a sharp decline in arrivals of asylum seeker in April, after the closure of the Western Balkan migration route, AFP reported. About 16,000 migrants arrived in April, down from 20,000 in March and down 90 percent from December, when 120,000 arrivals were recorded: euobserver.com/tickers/133382

After a special meeting of the Eurogroup to discuss the next phase of the Greek bailout in Brussels on Monday, ministers from the 19 eurozone countries said they had shared a "constructive discussion" and made more progress than expected, reports Politico. They now plan to meet again on May 24 to tie up loose ends, which will allow the release of the next tranche of Greece's current €86 billion bailout package: www.politico.eu/article/eurogroup-says-greek-bailout-deal-closer/