Category Archives: Brexit

French President Emmanuel Macron with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (file picture)

Terming Indian industry's continued focus on Britain as an investment destination as surprising, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said on June 3 that Indian companies should shift to France to access the large market of continental Europe.

"Indian investment is still very much channelled towards the United Kingdom, at somewhere between 40-50 percent of the whole stock (of Indian outward investments), which is a bit surprising," Lenain said at a media interaction. He termed such investments a business risk.

"Indian goods bound for the European Union (EU) through the UK would have to go through phytosanitary checks twice, as well as border controls," the Ambassador stressed. He added that exports in sectors such as pharmaceuticals would also face regulatory checks twice.

Instead, he suggested that more Indian companies should move to France, in the backdrop of significant labour reforms put in place by the current administration of President Emmanuel Macron. The administration has also put in place a flat tax on capital gains.

Currently, there are 210 Indian companies with 6000 employees in France as compared to nearly 850 Indian companies in the UK. This includes company such as TCS, Tech Mahindra, Murugappa and Zoho. Lenain said France is the third-largest destination for Indian companies in Europe with an estimated $350 million worth of investments.

France is actively pursuing a policy of getting the European headquarters of corporates shifted to France from the UK, said Eric Fajole, Director of Business France South Asia, France trade promotion body. This also applies for the European headquarters of Indian companies currently based out of Britain.

On the other hand, the Ambassador said that India is fast becoming a preferred investment destination for large sectors of the French economy. Apart from strategic manufacturing this includes technology driven businesses as well. However, the same can't be said of the majority of French companies in China, who were tipped to move out along with most other Western businesses after the geopolitical fallout of the Covid pandemic hit China's reputation.

"Like most European businesses, while they are not currently doubling down on investments in India, they are also not looking to move out at the moment due to the Chinese economy (remaining strong)," Lenain said.

Make in France

France has been the largest destination for Foreign Direct Investment in Europe for the third year in a row, according to the recently released EY Barometer of Europe Attractiveness survey 2022. With 1222 new investment projects, of which 69 percent are extensions of existing projects, the country has seen a 24 percent rise in FDI led projects in 2021, the report says. It adds that the country remains the top most destination for investments into Research and development, in Europe.

The country is also home to 28,000 foreign companies who contribute to 21 percent of national GDP and make up almost one third of exports. FDI into France has risen by 50 percent since Macron first came to power in 2017. The French government believes that Indian manufacturers in the electric vehicle sector can corporate more with EV battery manufacturers in France.

Need holistic FTA

Present at the same interaction, European Union Ambassador Ugo Astuto said the EU wants a comprehensive trade pact with India, which includes chapters on climate change and labour norms. India is negotiating two separate pacts on trade and investments with the European Union and Astuto confirmed that discussions are set to begin shortly.

Continue reading here:

In post-Brexit era, Indian industry should shift investments from UK to France to access European markets:... - Moneycontrol

BREXIT is hammering theeconomyat the worst possible time, theSNPhave said in response to figures revealing a significant drop in food and drink exports.

A report released by the Food and Drink Federation on Wednesday showed that exports to the EU in the first quarter of the year are down by 17.3% more than 600 million on the same period in 2019.

Salmon has been hit especially hard, the figures show, with a drop of 25%. Whisky, however, is performing strongly, with an increase of 9.7%.

Exports to the rest of the world have increased since 2019 by 10.7%. However, this gain (around 222m) is not enough to cover the losses made on trade with the EU post-Brexit (around 628m).

Comparing the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2019 overall, UK exports of food and drink are down by 7%. However, imports from the EU have actually increased by 13.3%.

The SNP's shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, Deidre Brock MP, said: "The damage of the Tories' extreme Brexit knows no bounds with new figures revealing a plunge in food and drink exports to the EU in just the first three months of this year alone compared to the same period in 2019.

"Brexit is continuing to hammer households and businesses at the worst possible time - with Scotland and the UK being hit with rising food prices, increased paperwork and delays, and drop in exports.

"While scandal-ridden Boris Johnson attempts to distract the public with pounds and ounces, the reality is that Scotland's world-leading food and farming sector is being sold out and Brexit continues to cost our economy.

"The only way for Scotland to escape the long-term damage of Brexit is to become an independent country and re-join the EU and the biggest single trading bloc one which is seven times bigger than the UK market."

The UK Government has been approached for comment.

The rest is here:

Brexit 'still hammering' UK food and drinks exports, report shows - The National

Travelling with a WA (Withdrawal Agreement) Brexit residency card can bring some minor issues or complexities, such as which queue to go in at airports or whether your passport should be stamped.

Parents with Brexit residency cards who travel with children (under 18s) can find it more difficult as the child will not have their own titre de sjour before their 18th birthday in most instances.

British nationals who were living in France before the end of 2020 were able to apply for a Brexit residency card (a titre de sjour portant la mention 'Accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de lUnion Europenne') to ensure that they maintained similar rights as other EU nationals living in France.

Around 165,000 such cards have been issued to Britons in France.

We look at some of the rules and issues that can arise when travelling with WA cards.

You should as a general rule carry your French residency card with you at all times, if possible, in case of a police check. This document can also be used as an identity document for internal flights in France.

If you are leaving France, even to another EU country, you should also take your passport with you as the residency card is not sufficient on its own. You will not necessarily have your passport checked if you drive across the border to, for example, Spain, but you should have it with you in case.

When you are leaving France or re-entering you should proactively show your WA card to border agents so that they know that you are a French resident and not a British tourist. Do not expect to be asked for this card.

Frances national police has told The Connexion that British citizens (whether they are WA card holders or not) are eligible to use rapid e-gates set up at certain airports and train stations in the country. This is where you get your passport checked electronically using a machine. It only works for biometric passports.

These e-gates are set up in airports such as Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, Bordeaux, Nice, Marseille and Lyon (see full list here), and the train stations Gare du Nord (Paris), St Pancras (London), Coquelles (Calais) and Folkestone (UK).

The system of using the electronic passport checks, called Parafe, can be used by EU citizens, British citizens, US citizens, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and more (full list here).

Once a British person has scanned their passport at one of these gates, they must still see a border guard who will check their documents, the spokesperson for the French police said.

This is where a non-WA-card holder will have their passport stamped, and where a WA card holder will show the border guard their card to prove that they are a French resident.

In places where the Parafe system is not in place, British people entering France will have to queue in the lane marked for all passports, or the lane that is not exclusively for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.

Passport checks are subject to change in the near future when the EUs new Entry/Exit system (EES) is introduced, which is planned for this autumn. See more on this later in the article.

Read more: France-UK travel and passport lanes for British nationals post Brexit

People who have a WA card should not have their passports stamped when they enter France but there have been reports of it happening.

A British Embassy spokeswoman previously confirmed to The Connexion that if they are stamped, it will not have any impact on the rights of the holder in France.

EU law does not prevent border guards from stamping passports but the European Commission has stated that there is little practical use in stamping passports of Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries.

Passports are generally stamped so that border guards can ensure that the person entering the country does not remain in the country longer than they are legally permitted.

This is related in particular to short stay visits which are limited to 90 in 180 days now for British tourists and second-home owners.

Read more: Can you start a French visa while already in the country?

If a person with a WA card has their passport stamped returning to France and then leaves again more than three months later - the legal period of time a British person who is not a French resident is allowed to stay in the country - there will be no legal consequence.

Read more: I hold a Brexit residency card: Why was passport stamped at border?

If you are a holder of a WA residency card and you travel out of France with your child who is under 18 and does not yet have their own residency card, you may find that their passport is stamped upon returning to France.

As is the case with adults whose passports are stamped, this should not be an issue as the child is within their legal rights to remain in France for as long as their parent or guardians visa is valid.

If your childs passport is stamped on the way in, it could be worth bringing proof of your relationship to the child the next time you leave the country, such as a livret de famille or the childs birth certificate.

This is just in case the border guard asks for extra proof that the child is covered by the parent or guardians WA card.

It is possible for children from age 16 to apply (under certain conditions) for a carte de sjour if they plan to work in France and want a card as proof of their right to do so. See more about that here (in French).

Child travelling alone outside of France

If the child is going to travel alone out of France, it might be worth getting a document called a DCEM, which stands for document de circulation pour tranger mineur (travel document for a foreign minor).

This document can be helpful if a young person is going to be travelling away from France, to provide proof of residency when they return. It attests to their legal residency in France.

It is not obligatory, although it might be worth getting one just for peace of mind or to save any potential hassle or confusion.

A parent or guardian can apply for this document online at this link or from their local prefecture, in person, by letter or email, depending on local procedures.

The document is free for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, listed under the heading of parent europen on the French governments website.

For the majority of other citizens not from these countries, listed under parent tranger en situation rgulire, it costs 50. You must pay using timbres fiscaux worth 50 (select the option Titre pour trangers).

The Connexion believes that British citizens, even those holding WA residency cards, fall under the category of parent tranger en situation rgulire. We have contacted the French interior ministry for confirmation and are awaiting reply.

To get the DCEM, the parent will need to fill out the form cerfa no.11203 and also provide several more documents such as (list not exhaustive):

Parents birth certificate (acte de naissance du demandeur)

Parent and childs passports

Livret de famille

Carte de sjour

Marriage or divorce certificates

Childs proof of enrollment in French education (certificat de scolarit) or any other document proving the child lives in France

Proof of address (justificatif de domicile)

Two photos of the child

Form cerfa no.11203

Timbres fiscaux worth 50

For more information on the documents required, see this link here (in French).

Read more: Does my under 18 need a DCEM travel document for travel from France?

EES

The EU is scheduled to begin implementing a digital passport checking system called the Entry-Exit System (EES) EES from the end of September or the beginning of October (although doubts have been raised over the feasibility of this start date).

The system will involve the collection of information about non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area and is intended to eventually remove the need for passport stamps.

This may resolve problems with border guards stamping the passports of people who hold Withdrawal Agreement residency cards.

Read more: Dover Port boss warns of safety issues and delays with new EU checks

Etias

From early 2023, non-EU travellers will also have to apply online for travel authorisation under Etias (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) before travelling.

Currently, people with visa-free access to the EU can enter the bloc without any travel authorisation. This will change with Etias, which will require these people to apply online for an Etias before travelling. There is a 7 fee.

However, people who hold Withdrawal Agreement residency cards will be exempt from Etias, as they already have a visa allowing them to live in France and Etias is only for people without a visa.

Holders of Brexit residency cards issued in France (or any other EU country) will also be able to travel around the EU without having to pay for an Etias.

Read more: Etias: What is new EU 7 entry process and how might it affect you?

UK passport not stamped on exit from France: Will this cause problems?

Post-Brexit travel healthcare: What is a UK CRA Ehic card?

Britons in France: What is the benefit of EU long-term resident card?

Read more:

Explainer: France's Brexit residency cards and foreign travel - The Connexion

The expansion of the UKs manufacturing sector slowed to a seven-month low as inflation ate into household spending and exports dropped in part due to Brexit.

According to an influential survey, the sector struggled to keep up its growth in May.

Businesses blamed weaker growth in demand from within the UK, fewer export orders, troubled supply chains, rising costs and the war in Ukraine.

As a result the S&P Global/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) hit 54.6 in May, down from 55.8 in April.

Anything above 50 means that the manufacturing sector is growing in the UK. If the score falls below 50 it is shrinking.

Although it notched up its 24th consecutive month of growth, the data shows a clear weakening for manufacturers.

A significant part of this is the consumer goods industry. For the first time in 15 months production actually fell, the researchers found when studying survey responses.

The contraction is in part linked to the consumers that are the end target for those goods. Recent inflation means many are struggling to keep up old spending habits.

Household demand slumped in response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, said Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

With both input costs and selling prices rising at rates close to Aprils peaks, the surveys suggest that there is no sign of the inflationary surge abating any time soon.

Manufacturers continue to report issues getting the right materials, at the right time, for the right price, and energy prices remain a major concern.

New export orders dipped for the eighth time in the last nine months, the survey participants revealed.

Companies said that this was due to Brexit difficulties, delays in transportation, shipping disruptions and orders being cancelled due to the Ukraine war.

The cost that companies had to pay rose substantially in May, although dipped slightly from April when inflation was at near records.

As a result they were forced to raise their own prices. Selling prices rose almost as fast as in April, a record high.

Forward-looking indicators from the survey suggest that a further slowdown may be in the offing, Mr Dobson said.

Business optimism dipped to a 17-month low and weaker demand growth led to surplus production, meaning warehouse stock levels are rising.

Any reversal of this stock-building trend could reinforce the drag of other headwinds and add to downside risks to the outlook.

The rest is here:

Manufacturing growth slows as Brexit and cost-of-living problems weigh - Bridport and Lyme Regis News

Bord Iascaigh Mhara has today confirmed the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme is officially open for applications.

The 25 million scheme offers grants to enable coastal communities to restructure, reconfigure, retrain, and diversify post-Brexit, with companies and communities within 10km of the coastline qualifying.

Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue says the scheme will help strengthen and rejuvenate coastal communities.

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Release in full

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Irelands Seafood Development Agency, has today(Friday 3 June, 2022)announced the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme is officially open for applications for grant funding to enable coastal communities to restructure, reconfigure, retrain, and diversify post-Brexit.

An initiative of the Government of Ireland, and administered by BIM, the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme aims to counter the adverse economic and social consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on businesses operating in the blue economy and located in communities within 10km of the coastline.

The Scheme, the largest of its kind ever, will have a 25 million budget available for the years 2022 and 2023, funded under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

The Scheme will be delivered through the existing Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs). The Fisheries Local Action Groups uniquely focus local development funding specifically for areas within 10kms of the sea around the entire coast, precisely the communities that are most impacted by Brexit.

The Scheme is one of the recommendations of the Seafood Sector Taskforce, established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. in March 2021 to mitigate against the impacts of Brexit on the wider Irish seafood industry and coastal communities.

Welcoming todays announcement theMinister Charlie McConaloguesaid:

The blue economy is the beating heart of Irelands rural coastal communities. This new Scheme is designed to help strengthen and rejuvenate those communities by giving businesses an opportunity to apply for funding for their blue economy activities in areas including seafood, coastal tourism, boat building and maintenance, marine recreation, and renewable energy initiatives.

Stimulating entrepreneurial activity, providing mentoring to help businesses adapt and find new opportunities and helping people train or retrain to allow them to keep and use their marine skills within the blue economy will enhance the profitability and economic viability of these communitys post Brexit. Grants of up to 200,000 are available and can be used to cover capital investment projects, along with mentoring and training.

In Ireland, 1.9 million people live within 5km of the coast and many communities along the Irish coast depend on industries including tourism, fishing and aquaculture. Launching the SchemeJim OToole, CEO BIM, referred to the unique identity of Irelands coastal communities and how this latest scheme will help to stimulate already established businesses, and new business ideas, in these communities.

The seafood sector is an important contributor to Irelands coastal communities and combined with other blue economy activities, gives Irelands coastal communities a unique and rich heritage for those who live and work in them and for those who visit. This new scheme will help these communities adapt to new market realities in the post-Brexit landscape by stimulating further growth of the blue economy.

Full details about theBrexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, including how to apply can be found onbim.ie

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BIM's Brexit initiative now open for applications - Highland Radio

Tuesday 31 May 2022 10:58 am

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are preparing to give a joint speech on planned post-Brexit reforms to the EUs Solvency II insurance regulations.

The speech will be concentrated around the UKs opportunities post-Brexit and will come after the governments plan to scrap a series of EU regulations on the City was announced in the Queens Speech.

The Sun reports that the pair will do the speech in June in an attempt to reset Johnsons faltering government.

A government taskforce last year estimated the retained EU Solvency II law which makes insurance firms hold a certain amount of capital to ensure they can survive potential economic shocks is holding back 95bn of investment into the British economy.

City minister John Glen earlier this year said the government would slash Solvency IIs risk margin, which will ensure firms need to hold less capital in reserve.

He said there would be a cut of between 60 to 70 per cent for life insurance firms, while the regulation will also be relaxed to allow firms to invest in long-term assets like infrastructure.

Government figures have also said that easing Solvency II, and freeing up billions of pounds for investment, will help complete the governments agenda to level up the Midlands and the North.

Johnson and Sunaks speech will likely also include mentions to other planned changes to the Citys rulebook in a bid to ensure the financial services sector maintain its global competitiveness post-Brexit.

See the rest here:

Johnson and Sunak to give joint speech on post-Brexit insurance reforms - City A.M.

By Stewart Beer, Site Manager atElectrix International.

When the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, it saw economic repercussions almost instantly. As the results from around the UK flooded in, the value of the pound suffered its biggest single-day slump in 31 years. This meant it was down over 7% against the Euro.

The result of the referendum has greatly impacted the relationship between the UK and countries within the European Union. One of the countries that has seen the greatest change in their UK relationship is Germany.

In this article, well explore how Brexit has affected Germany.

One of the biggest hits Germany has taken as a result of Brexit has been the change in trading. Prior to the Brexit vote, the trading relationship between Germany and the UK was very strong. In 2015, German exports into the UK were operating at over 89 billion in 2015 but fell under 79 billion in 2019.

Imports of products and goods from the UK also suffered thanks to the additional costs and rules of EU-UK trading. Destatis, Germanys statistical office, reported that imports dropped to 32 billion in 2021. This is an overall drop of 8.5% from the previous year and saw the UK lose its status as one of the top five largest trade partners for Germany. The London School of Economics has predicted that trade with EU countries could decrease by around a third over the next 10 years.

Germany responded to this change in trading relationships with the UK by looking to trading partners within the EU and further afield. There was a rise of 16.8% in exports from Germany to other EU countries and a 20.8% increase in exports to China. Overall, there was a wave of goods imports into Germany that resulted in a 17.1% rise to 1.2 trillion in 2021. Turning to neighbouring countries for things like car parts and stainless steel enclosures helped to maintain their aerospace industry.

When the Brexit plan was initiated on 31st January 2020, the UK surrendered its involvement in the freedom of movement within the EU. This means that UK citizens travelling into Germany dont require a visa so long as their stay isnt longer than 90 days, and within that time, they dont have access to economic activity such as getting a job. This could discourage British citizens from taking opportunities to work and live in Germany and vice versa.

With the events of the last few years and the changes to travel for British citizens, the tourist arrivals in Germany have taken a huge hit. Between 2019 and 2022, the intake of tourists into the country has decreased by well over half. The impact of COVID can obviously be seen in these results but the uncertainty surrounding travel as a result of Brexit cant be understated.

One group this has a particular impact on is young people. Having the option for free movement and the opportunity to work and live in a different country and immerse yourself in the local culture helps in finding yourself. This was made even more difficult when the UK then made the decision to withdraw from the Erasmus+ scheme. This offered grants to help fund international studying for those who wouldnt be able to afford it otherwise.

Britains exit from the European Union has a huge economic impact on the remaining countries. An analysis by the European Commission in 2021 estimated that as a result of this event, Germany could be set to lose 35 billion.

While part of the EU, the UK was the second-largest contributor to the EUs budget. In the last full year as part of it, the UK contributed a gross of around 18.9 billion to the EU before being rebated 4.5 billion. As a result, the expectation falls on the remaining countries to pick up the pieces, and that task falls to Germany as the next largest contributor, with a reported 28 billion given to the budget in 2020. Combining Brexit with the impact of other world events from the past few years has seen the German government act.

The council of economic advisers brought their forecast for economic growth for 2022 from 4.6% down to 1.8%. This is to account for the increase in natural gas and oil prices, as well as the already delayed supply chains struggling further. However, they do expect the countrys GDP to see an increase of 3.6% in 2023.

The overall effects of Brexit didnt just echo throughout the UK. The stark impact it had on countries throughout the EU cant be understated, particularly in Germany. Trade and travel have taken a huge hit from the change, losing a lot of revenue from these streams. With the UK leaving the EU, a lot of responsibility in terms of the Unions budget has fallen to Germany as the next largest contributor. Combining an increase in responsibilities budget-wise alongside maintaining the countrys individual economy has meant a reduction in their expected growth. However, with neighbouring European countries and China upping their trading with Germany, weve seen an impressive turnover which leaves us positive and hopeful for a prosperous future.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/23/british-pound-given-boost-by-projected-remain-win-in-eu-referendum

Brexit has complicated and isolated Germany’s role in the EU

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/09/uk-goods-into-germany-down-further-sign-brexit-damage

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/56347096

https://uk.diplo.de/uk-en/travel-after-brexit/2441830

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7886/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/316691/eu-budget-contributions-by-country/

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Echoes Throughout Europe The Impact of Brexit on Germany - Global Banking And Finance Review

Britain voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ardent Brexiteers insisting the country will thrive away from the shackles of Brussels' rules and regulations. Remainers have thrown cold water on the UK's ability to compete on the world stage and have even launched a continued campaign for the nation to rejoin the EU. But the 31st and latest edition of a major financial centres ranking list has once again silenced those voices putting Brexit Britain down.

The Global Financial Centres Index provides evaluations of future competitiveness and rankings for 119 financial centres around the world.

Rankings are based on 150 factors, with quantitative measures from the World Bank, The Economist Intelligence Unit, the OECD and United Nations. It also uses 74,982 assessments from 11,934 respondents.

In 2021, the Global Financial Centres Index shows London left the EU trailing, coming out at number two in the world with a rating of 726 - only second behind New York (759).

But most notable, not one EU city even managed to make it into the top 10 - silencing those who said financial centres from around Europe would easily trump London.

In fact, only four EU cities managed to make it into the top 25 - Paris at number 11, Frankfurt at number 16, Madrid at number 18, and Amsterdam at number 19.

Also strikingly, four out of the eight European financial centres in the top 25 are outside the EU - London, Zurich, Edinburgh and Geneva.

The rest of the top 10 list was unsurprisingly dominated by US and Asian cities that are home to some of the world's largest economies - Hong Kong, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Singapore, San Francisco, Beijing, Tokyo and Shenzen.

In a further boost to Brexit Britain, London also topped the most recent European technology cities index to retain its crown as the continent's most technologically advanced city.

READ MORE:'Not what we voted for' furious Farage pinpoints

"Thankfully the relentless upbeat positivity of Facts4EU continues to be the antidote, as we publish details of the y/Zen report into Global Financial Centres and also the Smart Cities rankings.

"Both place London as top in Europe and second in the world to New York despite Brexit.

"There will be more indexes and rankings and London will continue to perform well, beating the other EU rivals by some distance.

But the research firm also warned: "Lets not rest on our laurels, however.

"It is essential that the Government moves faster to discard bureaucratic EU laws and replaces them with regulations fit for the 21st Century.

"Lets have a Brexit that puts London ahead of New York that should be our countrys ambition."

View original post here:

London leads the way: Brexit doomsayers shut down as UK crushes EU on Global Index - Express

Dans, 28, Birmingham

Occupation Accountant

Voting record Left Latvia before he was old enough to vote. Voted Labour in 2019

Amuse bouche Dans used to do some modelling

Occupation Part-time office manager; also an actor and model

Voting record Isnt eligible to vote in the UK; has generally voted for the Spanish equivalent of the Labour party

Amuse bouche Went to COP15 in 2009 as a youth spokesperson

Dans The food was amazing. We had baby potatoes, some seafood.

Georgina We had a steak sharing board. It was very nice. We had some dressed mussels, in a tomatoey sauce.

Dans I was very surprised to see someone my age.

Georgina I was totally expecting a bloke in his 60s.

Georgina He said Brexit didnt have anything to do with racism. But my partners family said, We voted to stay in the EU because we dont want you to be deported. And I thought: OK, people who vote leave are actually voting for me to be deported? How is anybody OK with that? How can he come from Latvia and support Brexit?

Dans A lot of our views on the EU were down to our personal experiences. I know she had a very good experience with the Erasmus scheme, and Ive also been on Erasmus. So I see that good side of the EU. But the only change I have felt is the people from the EU who would not come to the UK any more. Everything else didnt materialise, and what has materialised has been to do with circumstances other than Brexit.

Georgina I saw his point that the European Union project sometimes isnt beneficial for poorer countries its all about France and Germany.

Dans The EU favours wealthy countries. I saw the price of coffee in Latvia go from 60c to 1 overnight because they joined the eurozone. Wages dont go up to keep pace.

Dans I didnt want to sound pessimistic, but environmentally speaking, I think were doomed.

Georgina We had the same view on climate change. Its inevitable that were destroying the Earth. And its really sad. We also talked about what we do in our daily lives to reduce our impact. It was ironic, because we were eating steak and mussels. But we have both reduced our consumption of animal products to very low levels.

Dans We really need to change, but you have to close that off, because thats essentially climate anxiety.

Georgina We agreed on Extinction Rebellion, that we see their point. Its getting to the stage where people need to do something drastic.

Dans We found a lot of common ground on Covid. I thought she was going to say masks should be mandatory, but she just wants masks in very specific settings, when its overcrowded and the cases are high.

Georgina We both came to the conclusion that it was an evolving situation. In Spain, it was brutal. Everyone had to wear masks all the time. I even saw people in their 80s, in the 30C heat, wearing FFP2 masks. But at the same time, I came back to the UK and got angry with people not wearing masks in supermarkets.

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Dans I bet if you started looking into the impact mask wearing has had on children, youd never be able to justify it again. Just imagine putting yourself in that position at the age of eight or nine. All these restrictions have a major impact on mental health.

Georgina It was not beneficial for kids. But my partner got Covid at the start when he wasnt vaccinated and he was so ill, he had long Covid for 10 months. Dans said, My partners got underlying conditions and she was fine. And I was like, thats exactly the point, its completely random.

Dans She was amazing. Shes got a very nice, authentic personality shes very open and we clicked quite quickly. We did exchange details, and we may meet again with our partners.

Georgina It was an amazing experience, very refreshing. Two people with opposing views can sit down and explore that. Why cant we use this tool that we have, which is so powerful human communication?

Georgina and Dans ate at The Pig & Tail, Birmingham

Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part

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Dining across the divide: How can he come from Latvia and support Brexit? - The Guardian

He accused the EU of wanting a solution that was "theoretically watertight" and unlikely to therefore ever be sustainable. Since the end of the EU transition period at the end of 2020, the EU has imposed strict customs checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea from Britain to Northern Ireland.

The bureaucratic checks were implemented as part of the 2019 Brexit withdrawal agreement but Unionists believe the heavy-handed nature of Brussels' approach is undermining the integrity of the UK.

Ministers have been in negotiations with the EU for months on the impact of the Protocol, but the bloc has so far refused to compromise.

Speaking to a parliamentary committee this morning, Mr Cleverly said ministers had solutions that should satisfy both sides in the talks.

He said: "There are a whole load of practical fixes which address the real world concerns of the EU in terms of integrity of the single market without introducing onerous or excessive checks or bureaucracy or delays in time with East-West trade across the Irish Sea between different parts of the United Kingdom."

READ MORE ON OUR BREXIT LIVE BLOG

The minister said the proposal "also protects the North-South trade between the UK and Ireland".

He added: "We think we're there. We think we've got proposals that do it in the real world."

Both the UK and EU agreed in Brexit withdrawal talks not to impose customs checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the south.

There were fears checks on the land border would undermine the Northern Ireland peace process and risk a return to the dark days of the troubles.

Brussels therefore demanded checks be carried out on goods crossing the Irish Sea in order to avoid products which do not comply with EU rules entering the bloc's single market via Northern Ireland.

The UK's plans would see customs checks eradicated on goods that were likely to remain in Northern Ireland and the introduction of a "trusted trader scheme" for big firms who pledge not to exploit the relaxing of the red tape.

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Any firm which abused the system would be hit with heavy fines.

Brussels has rejected the plans because it means a risk remains of a small number of goods could end up in the EU.

"Our position is we genuinely think that with a big dose of goodwill and trust and with a big dose of technology we can actually get through and address both our sets of concerns," Mr Cleverly added while giving evidence to the House of Lords Northern Ireland committee.

"It strikes me for the level of reassurance the EU seeks on the integrity of the single market, they are looking to put in processes which are not just practically but also theoretically water tight."

Britain has vowed to introduce legislation to override the Protocol unilaterally if the EU continues to refuse to negotiate.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss unveiled the plans for the new law earlier this month and has pledged to start voting it through Parliament in a matter of weeks.

Ministers say they will continue to hold talks with the EU in parallel with the legislation.

They will abandon the new Bill if a compromise can be found with Brussels.

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'We have real world solutions!' EU blasted as Brussels makes unrealistic Brexit demands - Express