European Union

Thursday March 30, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 30, 2017

Scotland to press on with referendum

Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to press on with a fresh independence referendum after dismissing Theresa May’s promise of substantial new powers for Scotland Brexit.

June 25, 2016

The first minister said May’s decision to trigger article 50 on Wednesday, beginning the UK’s divorce from the EU, was one of the most destructive acts by a British leader in modern history, threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK.

Writing for the Guardian, Sturgeon said the decision was dispiriting, economically foolhardy and constitutionally reckless, threatening stability in Northern Ireland. It also undermined European efforts to combat climate change and collective security, she said.

“Brexit – especially the hard Brexit shaped by May’s inability to shake off the agenda of the Ukip-tinged right wing of her own party – threatens to be an act of self-harm on a scale barely understood,” she said.

She accused May of paying only superficial attention to the Scottish government’s demands for a special deal on the single market, opening up further conflicts with the UK government over the benefits Scotland could gain from Brexit.

“The result is that we must now ensure that people in Scotland are given a choice between the hard Brexit deal now being negotiated, and independence,” she said.

Just as the prime minister told MPs at Westminster she had formally triggered article 50, Sturgeon had received a letter from David Davis, the UK Brexit secretary, insisting his government was engaging seriously with Sturgeon’s proposals.

Neither government would release Davis’s letter but it is understood that he told Sturgeon he was disappointed that she had launched her claim for an independence referendum before she saw the full extent of the new powers on offer once EU laws and regulations were repatriated. (Source: The Guardian) 

 

Saturday June 25, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday June 25, 2016 Nexit, Frexit or Italeave? British vote fires up EU's 'Outers' Britain's vote to leave the European Union fired up populist eurosceptic parties across the continent on Friday, giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its euro currency. Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France demanded referendums on membership of the union, while Italy's 5-Star movement said it would pursue its own proposal for a vote on the euro. Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti-immigrant PVV party, said he would make a Dutch referendum on EU membership a central theme of his campaign to become prime minister in next year's parliamentary election. "I congratulate the British people for beating the political elite in both London and Brussels and I think we can do the same," Wilders told Reuters. "We should have a referendum about a 'Nexit' as soon as possible.Ó On Thursday, Britons voted to leave the 28-nation EU, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War Two. "There is no future any more (for the EU)," Wilders said. France's far right National Front party also called for a French referendum on European Union membership, cheering a Brexit vote it hopes can boost its eurosceptic agenda. Party leader Marine Le Pen celebrated the result by displaying the British flag on her Twitter page. "Victory for freedom!" she said. "We now need to hold the same referendum in France and in (other) EU countries." Her deputy, Florian Philippot said: "Our turn now #Brexit #Frexit.Ó The populist anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), an ally of Denmark's right-leaning government, also called for a referendum on membership of the European Union. "I believe that the Danes obviously should have a referendum on whether we want to follow Britain or keep things t

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday June 25, 2016

Nexit, Frexit or Italeave? British vote fires up EU’s ‘Outers’

Britain’s vote to leave the European Union fired up populist eurosceptic parties across the continent on Friday, giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its euro currency.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday June 22, 2016 ÔBrexitÕ Vote Will Change Europe, No Matter the Outcome If the U.K. decides in ThursdayÕs referendum to leave the European Union, it would shake the continent to its political foundations. Even if it stays, the bloc may never be the same. A decision to leave, which would be a first by a member nation, would deepen the crisis facing a continent already struggling with economic weakness, debt problems, large-scale migration and growing geopolitical instability to its south and east. At a minimum, politicians and officials say, a British exit would transform the blocÕs balance of power. Negotiations over a new relationship would consume the EUÕs energy at a time when European institutions are struggling to respond to the other problems. A U.K. exit also could disrupt financial markets and fire up anti-EU forces in other countries. Whether or not the U.K. leaves, change is coming. In February, U.K. Prime Minister David CameronÊstruck a deal with the rest of the EU to restrict migrant benefits and detach Britain from the blocÕs push for an Òever closer union.Ó Mr. CameronÕs effort to claw back power from Brussels, coupled with the referendum at home, is an approach that other European politicians are promising to follow, potentially fragmenting the bloc further. The referendum, at a minimum, has delivered a shock to EuropeÕs political classes, calling into question what some had once regarded as an inevitable march toward a federal EU. ÒObsessed with the idea of instant and total integration, we failed to notice that ordinary people, the citizens of Europe, do not share our Euro-enthusiasm,Ó European Council President Donald Tusk observed in a speech in late May. ÒThe specter of a breakup is haunting Europe, and a vision of a federation doesnÕt seem to me like the best answer to it.Ó (Continued: Wall Street Journal)Êhttp://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-vote-will-change-europe-no-mat

June 22, 2016

Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France demanded referendums on membership of the union, while Italy’s 5-Star movement said it would pursue its own proposal for a vote on the euro.

Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti-immigrant PVV party, said he would make a Dutch referendum on EU membership a central theme of his campaign to become prime minister in next year’s parliamentary election.

“I congratulate the British people for beating the political elite in both London and Brussels and I think we can do the same,” Wilders told Reuters. “We should have a referendum about a ‘Nexit’ as soon as possible.”

On Thursday, Britons voted to leave the 28-nation EU, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War Two.

“There is no future any more (for the EU),” Wilders said.

France’s far right National Front party also called for a French referendum on European Union membership, cheering a Brexit vote it hopes can boost its eurosceptic agenda.

Party leader Marine Le Pen celebrated the result by displaying the British flag on her Twitter page.

Friday September 19, 2014

September 19, 2014

“Victory for freedom!” she said. “We now need to hold the same referendum in France and in (other) EU countries.” Her deputy, Florian Philippot said: “Our turn now #Brexit #Frexit.”

The populist anti-immigration Danish People’s Party (DF), an ally of Denmark’s right-leaning government, also called for a referendum on membership of the European Union.

“I believe that the Danes obviously should have a referendum on whether we want to follow Britain or keep things the way we have it now,” DF party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl said.

In Sweden, the anti-immigration party the Sweden Democrats, which has the support of around 17 percent of voters according to a poll last month, said it would step up pressure for change.

September 4, 2015

September 4, 2015

“We demand that Sweden immediately starts to renegotiate the (EU) deals we have made and that the Swedish people will be able to speak up about a future EU-membership in a referendum,” party leader Jimme Akesson said.

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) called for the heads of the European Commission and European Parliament to resign after the Brexit vote, and said it may also call for a referendum unless the EU is reformed.

Italy’s second most popular party, the opposition 5-Star Movement described the result as a lesson in democracy and promised to pursue its own proposal for an Italian referendum on the euro.

The right-wing Northern League, a member of Italy’s opposition center-right, was more outspoken. “Thank you Great Britain, next it is our turn,” party leader Matteo Salvini said.(Source: Reuters)

Published in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record

Published in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record

 

Friday June 24, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday June 24, 2016 British PM David Cameron to step down this year in wake of EU vote Prime Minister David Cameron says he will resign by the fall and insists the British people's will must be respected after voters chose to leave the 28-nation European Union. "I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination," Cameron told reporters outside 10 Downing Street just before 8:30 a.m. in London. Cameron, in power for six years, said he will resign by the time of the Conservative party conference in the fall. He turns 50 on Oct. 9. "I held nothing back," he said. "I was absolutely clear in my belief that Britain was stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union É but the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path.Ó Cameron said he had spoken to Queen Elizabeth II about the steps he was undertaking to prepare the government for new leadership. British stocks are plunging as the market opens as investors scramble to react to the news. The pound has hit a 31-year low. Cameron sought to reassure investors and markets that "Britain's economy is fundamentally strong.Ó When he promised the referendum, in 2013, Cameron said it would "settle this European question in British politics" once and for all. He told voters he would forge a new deal between Britain and the EU that would make remaining an attractive prospect. At a Brussels summit in February, he won changes to welfare benefits that he said would reduce immigration and an exemption for Britain from the EU's commitment to "ever-closer union" Ñ a phrase that stirs images of a European super-state in some patriotic British hearts. (Source: CBC News) UK, Great Britain, England, David Cameron, EU, Brexit, boxing, European Union, referendum

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 24, 2016

British PM David Cameron to step down this year in wake of EU vote

Prime Minister David Cameron says he will resign by the fall and insists the British people’s will must be respected after voters chose to leave the 28-nation European Union.

“I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination,” Cameron told reporters outside 10 Downing Street just before 8:30 a.m. in London.

Cameron, in power for six years, said he will resign by the time of the Conservative party conference in the fall. He turns 50 on Oct. 9.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday June 22, 2016 ÔBrexitÕ Vote Will Change Europe, No Matter the Outcome If the U.K. decides in ThursdayÕs referendum to leave the European Union, it would shake the continent to its political foundations. Even if it stays, the bloc may never be the same. A decision to leave, which would be a first by a member nation, would deepen the crisis facing a continent already struggling with economic weakness, debt problems, large-scale migration and growing geopolitical instability to its south and east. At a minimum, politicians and officials say, a British exit would transform the blocÕs balance of power. Negotiations over a new relationship would consume the EUÕs energy at a time when European institutions are struggling to respond to the other problems. A U.K. exit also could disrupt financial markets and fire up anti-EU forces in other countries. Whether or not the U.K. leaves, change is coming. In February, U.K. Prime Minister David CameronÊstruck a deal with the rest of the EU to restrict migrant benefits and detach Britain from the blocÕs push for an Òever closer union.Ó Mr. CameronÕs effort to claw back power from Brussels, coupled with the referendum at home, is an approach that other European politicians are promising to follow, potentially fragmenting the bloc further. The referendum, at a minimum, has delivered a shock to EuropeÕs political classes, calling into question what some had once regarded as an inevitable march toward a federal EU. ÒObsessed with the idea of instant and total integration, we failed to notice that ordinary people, the citizens of Europe, do not share our Euro-enthusiasm,Ó European Council President Donald Tusk observed in a speech in late May. ÒThe specter of a breakup is haunting Europe, and a vision of a federation doesnÕt seem to me like the best answer to it.Ó (Continued: Wall Street Journal)Êhttp://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-vote-will-change-europe-no-mat

Wednesday June 22, 2016

“I held nothing back,” he said. “I was absolutely clear in my belief that Britain was stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union … but the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path.”

Cameron said he had spoken to Queen Elizabeth II about the steps he was undertaking to prepare the government for new leadership.

British stocks are plunging as the market opens as investors scramble to react to the news. The pound has hit a 31-year low.

Cameron sought to reassure investors and markets that “Britain’s economy is fundamentally strong.”

When he promised the referendum, in 2013, Cameron said it would “settle this European question in British politics” once and for all.

He told voters he would forge a new deal between Britain and the EU that would make remaining an attractive prospect. At a Brussels summit in February, he won changes to welfare benefits that he said would reduce immigration and an exemption for Britain from the EU’s commitment to “ever-closer union” — a phrase that stirs images of a European super-state in some patriotic British hearts. (Source: CBC News)


 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Monday, October 21, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, October 19, 2013

Canada-Europe free trade deal concluded, ratification two years off

Canada and the European Union have agreed to free the movement of goods, services, investment and labour with a pact-in-principle that challenges Canadian business to expand overseas.

“This is a big deal; this is the biggest deal Canada has ever made. Indeed, it is a historical achievement,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The prime minister announced the agreement-in-principle Friday with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels.

But the text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement or CETA remains a confidential document that still requires “drafting and fine tuning,” a Canadian official said in Brussels on condition he not be identified.

It could be another 18 to 24 months before final European approval is given, and Canada will likely proceed along a similar time frame, officials say.

Ottawa instead released a 44-page overview and other summary documents. The material is largely silent on what Canada had to cede to Europe, especially in sectors such as dairy and patent protection for pharmaceuticals.

The dairy sector’s farmers immediately accused the government of a “giveaway,” and the generic drug industry warned that health-care costs will rise.

Harper addressed their concerns head on, acknowledging there might be some pain. But he defended the deal as “excellent” for Canada in the long-term, and one that would be good for families looking for cheaper products and business seeking new opportunities in a huge market. (Source: CTV News)

Monday February 27, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 27, 2012 Canada claims win in EU oilsands vote The Conservative government and Canadian energy sector are girding for several more months of intense lobbying after European Union officials Thursday blocked a draft fuel law that would label the oilsands a dirtier form of crude. The Canadian government is trumpeting the outcome - which saw more EU officials reject the fuel directive than support it - as a temporary victory in its ongoing efforts to persuade European Union countries not to slap a higher carbonemissions rating on oilsands crude compared toÊconventional oil. It also means Canada's threats of launching a trade war with the European Union and taking the proposal to the World Trade Organization are on hold for now. But the result has environmental groups digging in their heels in the "dirty oil" fight and even more determined to prevent bitumen-derived fuels from being used in Europe. With many of Canada's allies abstaining from the vote, European Union countries supporting the proposed Fuel Quality Directive failed to win enough support at a Thursday committee meeting of technical experts to have it pass. However, there also wasn't enough support to kill the measure, so a council of EU ministers will now vote on the fuel directive, likely in June - but not before the Conservative government and petroleum producers ratchet up their efforts to quash it outright. "There was a sound win," federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in an interview. "We will continue to advocate our position. It has obviously resonated."Ê(Source: Ottawa Citizen) Canada, European Union, EU, Oil, crude, Alberta, Stephen Harper, Vladimir Putin, Bashir Assad, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Russia, Syria, Iran, Otto Dix, seal hunt. Europe, pageant, runway, fashion

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 27, 2012

Canada claims win in EU oilsands vote

The Conservative government and Canadian energy sector are girding for several more months of intense lobbying after European Union officials Thursday blocked a draft fuel law that would label the oilsands a dirtier form of crude.

The Canadian government is trumpeting the outcome – which saw more EU officials reject the fuel directive than support it – as a temporary victory in its ongoing efforts to persuade European Union countries not to slap a higher carbonemissions rating on oilsands crude compared to conventional oil.

It also means Canada’s threats of launching a trade war with the European Union and taking the proposal to the World Trade Organization are on hold for now.

But the result has environmental groups digging in their heels in the “dirty oil” fight and even more determined to prevent bitumen-derived fuels from being used in Europe.

With many of Canada’s allies abstaining from the vote, European Union countries supporting the proposed Fuel Quality Directive failed to win enough support at a Thursday committee meeting of technical experts to have it pass.

However, there also wasn’t enough support to kill the measure, so a council of EU ministers will now vote on the fuel directive, likely in June – but not before the Conservative government and petroleum producers ratchet up their efforts to quash it outright.

“There was a sound win,” federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in an interview. “We will continue to advocate our position. It has obviously resonated.” (Source: Ottawa Citizen)