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Tuesday 21 November 2017 WORLD NEWS
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EU takes tough approach to Brexit as talks enter key weeks

By RAF CASERT was no point in him being
JILL LAWLESS lenient, since EU nations,
Associated Press their legislators and the
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- European Parliament will
pean Union’s top Brexit ne- have to approve any deal,
gotiator on Monday took too.
an uncompromising ap- Barnier warned that Britain
proach to the Brexit talks would not get the close
over the next few crucial free-trade deal it seeks with
weeks, saying it’s up to Brit- the EU unless it stuck to a
ain to offer solutions on out- “European model” of the
standing issues and insisting economy. Some British ad-
other EU decision-makers vocates of Brexit want the
could be more unyielding U.K. to adopt a low-tax,
than he has been. light-regulation free-market
Michel Barnier told a con- economic model once it
ference in Brussels that leaves the bloc.
London needs to provide “Does it want to stay close
clear proposals soon to find to the European model or
a way for the U.K. to leave does it want to gradually
the EU in 2019 but still have move away from it?” Bar-
a transparent, open border nier asked. He said Britain’s
between Northern Ireland answer could be decisive
and EU member Ireland. European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier arrives for a conference to mark the launch since it will “shape also the
“Those who wanted Brexit of the Centre for European Reform’s new office in Brussels, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. conditions for ratification
must offer solutions,” Bar- (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) of that partnership in many
nier told a gathering at the about post-Brexit relations Britain must pay to settle its dashed British hopes that national parliaments and
Center for European Re- and trade. But the EU is de- commitments to the bloc. the EU is prepared to make obviously in the European
form. manding “sufficient prog- Barnier has said Britain has big compromises, saying Parliament.” “I do not say
Britain is hoping EU lead- ress” first on the Irish border, until the end of Novem- the bloc’s legal rules and this to create problems
ers will agree at a Dec. 14- the rights of citizens af- ber to demonstrate that commitments had to be re- but to avoid problems,” he
15 summit to start talking fected by Brexit and the bill progress. On Monday, he spected. And he said there said.q

Amsterdam, Paris selected to

host EU agencies after Brexit

By RAF CASERT competing for the banking
Associated Press agency.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- The relocations made nec-
pean Union went back to essary by the referendum
its roots Monday by picking to take Britain out of the EU
cities from two of its found- are expected to cost the
ing nations — France and country over 1,000 jobs di-
the Netherlands — to host rectly and more in second-
key agencies that will have ary employment.
move once Britain leaves The outcomes of the votes
the bloc in 2019. also left newer EU member
During voting so tight they states in eastern and south-
were both decided by a ern Europe with some bit-
lucky draw, EU members terness.
except Britain chose Am- Several had hoped to be
sterdam over Italy’s Milan tapped for a lucrative prize
as the new home of the Eu- that would be a sign the
ropean Medicines Agency bloc was truly committed
and Paris over Dublin to to outreach.
host the European Banking Some 890 top jobs will leave
Authority. Both currently Britain for Amsterdam with
are located in London. the European Medicines
“We needed to draw lots Agency, giving the Dutch
in both cases,” Estonian a welcome economic
EU Affairs Minister Matti boost and more prestige.
Maasikas, who chaired the The EMA is responsible for
meeting and in both cases the evaluation, supervision
made the decisive selec- and monitoring of medi-
tion from a big transparent cines. The Paris-bound Eu-
bowl. ropean Banking Authority,
Frankfurt, home of the Eu- which has around 180 staff
ropean Central Bank, sur- members, monitors the reg-
prisingly failed to become ulation and supervision of
one of the two finalists Europe’s banking sector.q