British Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly avoided a major blow to her Brexit strategy Tuesday after MPs rejected a plan that would have given parliament a veto on the final deal negotiated with Brussels.

The House of Commons voted 324 to 298 to defeat an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill which would have removed her government's power to unilaterally walk away from talks with Brussels.

But in extraordinary scenes, ministers were forced to offer last-minute compromises to pro-European MPs before holding private talks in corners of the chamber as the debate raged on.

May had feared a rebellion by her Conservative MPs over the motion, one of 15 submitted by the unelected upper House of Lords on which lawmakers will vote over the coming two days.

The bill will then go back to the Lords on Monday.

The pro-European cause was boosted when junior justice minister Phillip Lee, a close personal friend of the prime minister, resigned shortly before the debate in order to back the veto amendment.

May had earlier warned that defeat would weaken her hand in exit talks, while a string of eurosceptic MPs stood up to accuse the rebels of trying to thwart Brexit.

"Anything that undermines the government at home will make negotiations with the EU more difficult," May told a meeting of her cabinet.

Talks with Brussels have stalled over the fraught issue of the Irish border, but both sides are hoping to agree a final deal by October in time for the break on March 29, 2019.

The EU (Withdrawal) Bill would formally end Britain's membership of the bloc and transfer more than 40 years of European law onto the British statute books.

May is seeking to overturn 14 of 15 amendments passed by the Lords earlier this year, but has a fight on her hands due to her fragile majority in the 650-seat Commons.

She has already agreed to give MPs a vote on the final Brexit deal, but says it will be a yes or no decision -- meaning that rejecting it could see Britain crash out of the EU.

The Lords amendment would have given parliament the power to decide what happened next, with the possibility of going back to the negotiating table or even staying in the bloc.

Following its defeat, the government's own amendment on the so-called meaningful vote will go forward to the House of Lords for debate next week -- but with some changes.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland promised to work on the proposal taking into account concerns raised by former attorney general Dominic Grieve, a leading pro-European rebel.

Grieve told MPs: "If we don't achieve a deal at all, the fact is we are going to be facing an immense crisis.

"The question is how do we take some sensible steps to anticipate that happening and try to make sure that there is a coherent process for dealing with it."

Passions ran high in Tuesday's three-hour debate, when angry eurosceptics accused their rivals of trying to undermine the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU.

"The decision was taken by the people, we gave them that decision and we have to stand by it," said Conservative MP Bill Cash.

His pro-European colleague Anna Soubry hit back that hardline eurosceptics were seeking to "take us over the cliff of hard Brexit".

She has previously spoken of the threats she faced for challenging the government, and revealed that one colleague would not be voting as they wished this week for fear of reprisals.

Opposition Labour lawmaker Chuka Umunna had earlier accused Britain's tabloids of intimidation, holding up Tuesday's edition of the eurosceptic Daily Express.

It featured a British flag and the headline: "Ignore the will of the people at your peril."

Also on Tuesday, the government successfully overturned an attempt to remove the date of Brexit from the face of the bill.

Further clashes were expected on Wednesday during debate on amendments relating to how closely Britain stays aligned with the EU's economy after leaving.

Ministers were forced to offer last-minute compromises to pro-European MPs before holding private talks

British Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly avoided a major blow to her Brexit strategy Tuesday after MPs rejected a plan that would have given parliament a veto on the final deal negotiated with Brussels. The House of Commons voted 324 to 298 to defeat an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill which would have removed her government's power to unilaterally walk away from talks with Brussels. But in extraordinary scenes, ministers were forced to offer last-minute compromises to pro-European MPs before holding private talks in corners of the chamber as the debate raged on. May had feared a rebellion by her Conservative MPs over the motion, one of 15 submitted by the unelected upper House of Lords on which lawmakers will vote over the coming two days. The bill will then go back to the Lords on Monday. The pro-European cause was boosted when junior justice minister Phillip Lee, a close personal friend of the prime minister, resigned shortly before the debate in order to back the veto amendment. May had earlier warned that defeat would weaken her hand in exit talks, while a string of eurosceptic MPs stood up to accuse the rebels of trying to thwart Brexit. "Anything that undermines the government at home will make negotiations with the EU more difficult," May told a meeting of her cabinet. Talks with Brussels have stalled over the fraught issue of the Irish border, but both sides are hoping to agree a final deal by October in time for the break on March 29, 2019. The EU (Withdrawal) Bill would formally end Britain's membership of the bloc and transfer more than 40 years of European law onto the British statute books. May is seeking to overturn 14 of 15 amendments passed by the Lords earlier this year, but has a fight on her hands due to her fragile majority in the 650-seat Commons. She has already agreed to give MPs a vote on the final Brexit deal, but says it will be a yes or no decision -- meaning that rejecting it could see Britain crash out of the EU. The Lords amendment would have given parliament the power to decide what happened next, with the possibility of going back to the negotiating table or even staying in the bloc. Following its defeat, the government's own amendment on the so-called meaningful vote will go forward to the House of Lords for debate next week -- but with some changes. Solicitor General Robert Buckland promised to work on the proposal taking into account concerns raised by former attorney general Dominic Grieve, a leading pro-European rebel. Grieve told MPs: "If we don't achieve a deal at all, the fact is we are going to be facing an immense crisis. "The question is how do we take some sensible steps to anticipate that happening and try to make sure that there is a coherent process for dealing with it." Passions ran high in Tuesday's three-hour debate, when angry eurosceptics accused their rivals of trying to undermine the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU. "The decision was taken by the people, we gave them that decision and we have to stand by it," said Conservative MP Bill Cash. His pro-European colleague Anna Soubry hit back that hardline eurosceptics were seeking to "take us over the cliff of hard Brexit". She has previously spoken of the threats she faced for challenging the government, and revealed that one colleague would not be voting as they wished this week for fear of reprisals. Opposition Labour lawmaker Chuka Umunna had earlier accused Britain's tabloids of intimidation, holding up Tuesday's edition of the eurosceptic Daily Express. It featured a British flag and the headline: "Ignore the will of the people at your peril." Also on Tuesday, the government successfully overturned an attempt to remove the date of Brexit from the face of the bill. Further clashes were expected on Wednesday during debate on amendments relating to how closely Britain stays aligned with the EU's economy after leaving.

British PM Theresa May wins key Brexit vote in Parliament after compromise deal

Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Makes Sure He’s the First to Wish Jake Gyllenhaal a Happy Birthday

 
Tom Holland is the first one of&nbsp;Jake Gyllenhaal's friends to wish him on his birthday. The two actors starred in Spider-Man: Far From Home together last year and spent a lot of time professing their love for each other. The Mysterio actor turns 41 today.&nbsp; 
 
Taking to his Instagram, Holland wrote, "I had to be the first. Happy birthday mate miss you ♥️,"&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

 
 
Gyllenhaal and Holland shared a warm camaraderie on the sets of Spider-Man: Far from Home.&nbsp;Gyllenhall even joked that&nbsp;he wants to marry Holland and Holland has referred to his co-star as his husband in posts. 
 
One of the last times the two men had fun together on social media was back in April for the shirtless handstand challenge. 
 
In recent weeks, many actors have been confirmed for the upcoming Marvel's 'Spider-Man 3'. That list does not (yet) include Gyllenhaal. Though Gyllenhaal's Mysterio presumably died on-screen during the events of Far From Home, Marvel producer Eric Carroll previously teased otherwise, suggesting the character could end up with a story arc similar to that of an iconic Doctor Strange villain. "We wanted to find our 'in' and similar to what we did with Mordo in Doctor Strange," Carroll said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/yearender-2020-how-the-uncertainty-of-2020-affected-films-from-marvel-and-dc-universe-346730">Also read: How the uncertainty of 2020 affected films from Marvel and DC Universe</a>

Gyllenhaal may remain a question mark, but we recently learned the movie will <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-tobey-maguire-andrew-garfield-to-feature-in-tom-hollands-spider-man-3-348698">feature Andrew Garfield as The Amazing Spider-Man's Spider-Man</a>, Kirsten Dunst as MJ from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2, and potentially more. 
 
Another big name that was dropped last week is Charlie Cox, who played Daredevil/Matt Murdock on Netflix's slate of Marvel shows. While Tobey Maguire (Sam Raimi's Spider-Man) hasn't been officially announced for the movie, fans are pretty sure he's going to be making an appearance, too. The new movie is also expected to feature Jamie Foxx as Electro from 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'.

Arron Banks, the outspoken founder of the Leave.eu campaign, was introduced to London envoy Alexander Yakovenko by Alexander Udod, a 'suspected Russian intelligence officer', the report said

Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Makes Sure He’s the First to Wish Jake Gyllenhaal a Happy Birthday Tom Holland is the first one of Jake Gyllenhaal's friends to wish him on his birthday. The two actors starred in Spider-Man: Far From Home together last year and spent a lot of time professing their love for each other. The Mysterio actor turns 41 today. Taking to his Instagram, Holland wrote, "I had to be the first. Happy birthday mate miss you ♥️," View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Holland (@tomholland2013) × Gyllenhaal and Holland shared a warm camaraderie on the sets of Spider-Man: Far from Home. Gyllenhall even joked that he wants to marry Holland and Holland has referred to his co-star as his husband in posts. One of the last times the two men had fun together on social media was back in April for the shirtless handstand challenge. In recent weeks, many actors have been confirmed for the upcoming Marvel's 'Spider-Man 3'. That list does not (yet) include Gyllenhaal. Though Gyllenhaal's Mysterio presumably died on-screen during the events of Far From Home, Marvel producer Eric Carroll previously teased otherwise, suggesting the character could end up with a story arc similar to that of an iconic Doctor Strange villain. "We wanted to find our 'in' and similar to what we did with Mordo in Doctor Strange," Carroll said. Also read: How the uncertainty of 2020 affected films from Marvel and DC Universe Gyllenhaal may remain a question mark, but we recently learned the movie will feature Andrew Garfield as The Amazing Spider-Man's Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as MJ from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2, and potentially more. Another big name that was dropped last week is Charlie Cox, who played Daredevil/Matt Murdock on Netflix's slate of Marvel shows. While Tobey Maguire (Sam Raimi's Spider-Man) hasn't been officially announced for the movie, fans are pretty sure he's going to be making an appearance, too. The new movie is also expected to feature Jamie Foxx as Electro from 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'.

Brexit donor held undisclosed meetings with Russian envoy: Report

Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson warned that there could be a Brexit meltdown but it will be "all right in the end" and that US&nbsp;President Trump would take a tougher stance were he leading the talks, according to BuzzFeed.

Johnson's comments were secretly recorded at a dinner on Wednesday evening and released on Thursday by the news website hours after ministers found a compromise on a backstop Brexit plan for the Irish border.

Johnson said that Prime Minister Theresa May was beginning to take a harder line but that there would be a need for level-headedness as talks became more difficult in the months ahead.

"I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels,” Johnson was recorded saying.

"You’ve got to face the fact there may now be a meltdown. OK? I don’t want anybody to panic during the meltdown. No panic. Pro bono publico, no bloody panic. It’s going to be all right in the end."

Johnson said US&nbsp;President Trump, who is locked in a battle over steel tariffs with European allies including Britain, would take a stronger approach if he were in charge of the negotiations.

"Imagine Trump doing Brexit,” said Johnson.

"He’d go in bloody hard… There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought."

A spokeswoman at May's Downing Street office did not offer an immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

"I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels,” Johnson said

Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson warned that there could be a Brexit meltdown but it will be "all right in the end" and that US President Trump would take a tougher stance were he leading the talks, according to BuzzFeed. Johnson's comments were secretly recorded at a dinner on Wednesday evening and released on Thursday by the news website hours after ministers found a compromise on a backstop Brexit plan for the Irish border. Johnson said that Prime Minister Theresa May was beginning to take a harder line but that there would be a need for level-headedness as talks became more difficult in the months ahead. "I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels,” Johnson was recorded saying. "You’ve got to face the fact there may now be a meltdown. OK? I don’t want anybody to panic during the meltdown. No panic. Pro bono publico, no bloody panic. It’s going to be all right in the end." Johnson said US President Trump, who is locked in a battle over steel tariffs with European allies including Britain, would take a stronger approach if he were in charge of the negotiations. "Imagine Trump doing Brexit,” said Johnson. "He’d go in bloody hard… There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought." A spokeswoman at May's Downing Street office did not offer an immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

Brace for a possible 'Brexit meltdown' but don't panic, UK's Johnson cautions: Buzzfeed

France does not think Britain will launch a rival to the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system, according to minutes from a meeting between a cabinet minister and lawmakers.

A row over Galileo, a rival of the US-owned GPS, became a flashpoint in Brexit talks after London accused the EU of shutting British companies out of the project.

“Some surprising announcements or positions were recently made public about Galileo,” Delphine Geny-Stephann, a junior economy minister, told French lawmakers in the May 17 hearing on Brexit, the minutes of which were made public on Monday.

“Considering the cost of the programme and the investment that would represent, about 10 billion euros, we find it hard to imagine they could go it alone,” she said.

“Good luck with that,” one lawmaker, Jean-Louis Bourlanges, replied, according to the minutes.

Galileo was commissioned in 2003 and is due for completion by 2020. One expert said last month that any rival system could cost about 3 billion pounds ($4 billion).

Geny-Stephann was asked about London’s threats to withdraw its authorisations to British companies working on Galileo.

“I see in that, more than anything else, a negotiation argument aimed at opening talks,” she said, according to the minutes.

The UK space agency, on behalf of the business minister Greg Clark, wrote to British companies asking them to consult the government before agreeing any new contracts to work on the project, in a move aimed at stopping the transfer of technology to EU companies.

Responding to the French minister’s comments on Monday, a UK Space Agency spokesman said if no agreement could be reached on Galileo, the UK would need to consider alternatives to meet its needs.

“The development of a domestic system is economically viable and made possible by the world-leading expertise of the UK space sector,” the spokesman said.

Britain told the EU last month that it would demand the repayment of up to 1 billion pounds if the bloc restricts its access to Galileo.

A row over Galileo, a rival of the US-owned GPS, became a flashpoint in Brexit talks after London accused the EU of shutting British companies out of the project

France does not think Britain will launch a rival to the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system, according to minutes from a meeting between a cabinet minister and lawmakers. A row over Galileo, a rival of the US-owned GPS, became a flashpoint in Brexit talks after London accused the EU of shutting British companies out of the project. “Some surprising announcements or positions were recently made public about Galileo,” Delphine Geny-Stephann, a junior economy minister, told French lawmakers in the May 17 hearing on Brexit, the minutes of which were made public on Monday. “Considering the cost of the programme and the investment that would represent, about 10 billion euros, we find it hard to imagine they could go it alone,” she said. “Good luck with that,” one lawmaker, Jean-Louis Bourlanges, replied, according to the minutes. Galileo was commissioned in 2003 and is due for completion by 2020. One expert said last month that any rival system could cost about 3 billion pounds ($4 billion). Geny-Stephann was asked about London’s threats to withdraw its authorisations to British companies working on Galileo. “I see in that, more than anything else, a negotiation argument aimed at opening talks,” she said, according to the minutes. The UK space agency, on behalf of the business minister Greg Clark, wrote to British companies asking them to consult the government before agreeing any new contracts to work on the project, in a move aimed at stopping the transfer of technology to EU companies. Responding to the French minister’s comments on Monday, a UK Space Agency spokesman said if no agreement could be reached on Galileo, the UK would need to consider alternatives to meet its needs. “The development of a domestic system is economically viable and made possible by the world-leading expertise of the UK space sector,” the spokesman said. Britain told the EU last month that it would demand the repayment of up to 1 billion pounds if the bloc restricts its access to Galileo.

France doubts UK would develop own satnav rival to Galileo

European&nbsp;shares&nbsp;will&nbsp;end&nbsp;2018&nbsp;just&nbsp;ahead of their&nbsp;January&nbsp;peak, recovering from current levels as a resilient economy gradually overcomes a temporary slowdown and corporate earnings continue to rise, a&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;poll&nbsp;showed.

The&nbsp;poll&nbsp;was taken May 15-30, largely before a mounting political crisis in Italy sparked worries over a possible breakup of the euro zone, triggering a heavy sell-off in Italian assets.

The pan-European&nbsp;STOXX 600 benchmark index is expected to reach 406 points by year-end, according to the&nbsp;poll&nbsp;of 29 brokers, fund managers and analysts, up 5.6 percent from Tuesday's close and 4.3 percent on the year.

That will be enough for the index to surpass a 29-month high of 403.7 points it reached in January.

Eurozone blue-chips are expected to rise a bit further, up 7.9 percent from Tuesday's close to 3,700 points, according to the median of 37 responses.

Prospects for&nbsp;European&nbsp;shares&nbsp;faded at the beginning of the year as economic growth slowed more than expected, raising concerns there will be no return to boom.

But analysts were optimistic economic activity should be robust enough to modestly prop up shares&nbsp;and company earnings.

"For now, synchronized economic expansion, solid earnings growth and still relatively low volatility levels look supportive for global equity markets", Deutsche Asset Management analysts said.

According to Thomson&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;IBES estimates, earnings for STOXX 600 companies are expected to grow 8.7 percent in&nbsp;2018&nbsp;on revenues up 5.1 percent.

A majority of investors in Europe answered "yes" when asked if they thought global stocks would continue to rise in&nbsp;2018.

Among the risks identified by investors are Italy, Brexit talks, a US-China trade war, oil prices surging&nbsp;above&nbsp;100 dollars a barrel or international tensions involving Iran or North Korea.

"The economic picture stays positive but political risks are the top concern," said Tomas Hildebrandt, senior portfolio manager at Evli Bank in Helsinki.

A faster-than-expected acceleration in US&nbsp;inflation and interest rates is also seen as a threat after a rise in American wages took the market by surprise in February.

With the current rise in the dollar, investors said they believed the biggest risk of a sell-off was in emerging markets, where returns looked less attractive given rising US&nbsp;government bond yields.

A mounting political crisis in Italy sparked worries over a possible breakup of the eurozone, triggering a heavy sell-off in Italian assets

European shares will end 2018 just ahead of their January peak, recovering from current levels as a resilient economy gradually overcomes a temporary slowdown and corporate earnings continue to rise, a Reuters poll showed. The poll was taken May 15-30, largely before a mounting political crisis in Italy sparked worries over a possible breakup of the euro zone, triggering a heavy sell-off in Italian assets. The pan-European STOXX 600 benchmark index is expected to reach 406 points by year-end, according to the poll of 29 brokers, fund managers and analysts, up 5.6 percent from Tuesday's close and 4.3 percent on the year. That will be enough for the index to surpass a 29-month high of 403.7 points it reached in January. Eurozone blue-chips are expected to rise a bit further, up 7.9 percent from Tuesday's close to 3,700 points, according to the median of 37 responses. Prospects for European shares faded at the beginning of the year as economic growth slowed more than expected, raising concerns there will be no return to boom. But analysts were optimistic economic activity should be robust enough to modestly prop up shares and company earnings. "For now, synchronized economic expansion, solid earnings growth and still relatively low volatility levels look supportive for global equity markets", Deutsche Asset Management analysts said. According to Thomson Reuters IBES estimates, earnings for STOXX 600 companies are expected to grow 8.7 percent in 2018 on revenues up 5.1 percent. A majority of investors in Europe answered "yes" when asked if they thought global stocks would continue to rise in 2018. Among the risks identified by investors are Italy, Brexit talks, a US-China trade war, oil prices surging above 100 dollars a barrel or international tensions involving Iran or North Korea. "The economic picture stays positive but political risks are the top concern," said Tomas Hildebrandt, senior portfolio manager at Evli Bank in Helsinki. A faster-than-expected acceleration in US inflation and interest rates is also seen as a threat after a rise in American wages took the market by surprise in February. With the current rise in the dollar, investors said they believed the biggest risk of a sell-off was in emerging markets, where returns looked less attractive given rising US government bond yields.

European shares to end 2018 just above January peak: Report

British manufacturers turned up the pressure on the government to abandon one of its post-Brexit customs proposals on Tuesday, slamming the idea of a technology-based plan for border checks as naive and a waste of money.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out Britain staying in a customs union with the EU bloc - to the dismay of many employers groups - and says her government is working on two possible solutions to minimise delays at Britain's ports and airports.

But the EEF manufacturers' body said it was unrealistic and naive to think a technological border solution, known as "max fac," or maximum facilitation, could be implemented by the time a planned Brexit transition period ends in December 2020.

"It may have some long-term benefits, but suggesting max fac is a solution to our immediate problems is a non-starter," EEF Chief Executive Stephen Phipson said in a statement.

Phipson said a max fac-style arrangement at the U.S.-Canada border had not eliminated the need for checks on most goods.

The customs conundrum - which will define commerce between Britain and its biggest trading partner for decades - is a test of May's leadership as she tries to pacify rival factions in her Conservative Party and her cabinet.

She also needs to win agreement from Brussels where officials have dismissed both the options being considered.

The max fac option is favoured by Erosceptics in May's party who want looser ties with the European Union after Britain leaves the bloc.

But last week Britain's most senior tax official said such a customs arrangement could cost businesses up to 20 billion pounds ($27 billion) a year.

Under the other option, Britain would collect tariffs on imports from outside the bloc on the EU's behalf.

A senior EU official last week dismissed as "fantasy" some of Britain's main demands for Brexit, including on the Northern Ireland border. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier urged Britain to stop playing "hide and seek."

May's spokesman on Tuesday criticised what he called "sound bites and negative anonymous briefings" and called for a more constructive tone to the negotiations.

The EEF has previously urged the government to give businesses clarity on what Brexit will look and has warned of possible damage to complex cross-border supply chains.

Last week another major employers' group, the Confederation of British Industry said remaining in a customs union was currently the only workable option for Britain. Finance minister Philip Hammond rejected that view.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out Britain staying in a customs union with the EU bloc - to the dismay of many employers groups - and says her government is working on two possible solutions to minimise delays at Britain's ports and airports

British manufacturers turned up the pressure on the government to abandon one of its post-Brexit customs proposals on Tuesday, slamming the idea of a technology-based plan for border checks as naive and a waste of money. Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out Britain staying in a customs union with the EU bloc - to the dismay of many employers groups - and says her government is working on two possible solutions to minimise delays at Britain's ports and airports. But the EEF manufacturers' body said it was unrealistic and naive to think a technological border solution, known as "max fac," or maximum facilitation, could be implemented by the time a planned Brexit transition period ends in December 2020. "It may have some long-term benefits, but suggesting max fac is a solution to our immediate problems is a non-starter," EEF Chief Executive Stephen Phipson said in a statement. Phipson said a max fac-style arrangement at the U.S.-Canada border had not eliminated the need for checks on most goods. The customs conundrum - which will define commerce between Britain and its biggest trading partner for decades - is a test of May's leadership as she tries to pacify rival factions in her Conservative Party and her cabinet. She also needs to win agreement from Brussels where officials have dismissed both the options being considered. The max fac option is favoured by Erosceptics in May's party who want looser ties with the European Union after Britain leaves the bloc. But last week Britain's most senior tax official said such a customs arrangement could cost businesses up to 20 billion pounds ($27 billion) a year. Under the other option, Britain would collect tariffs on imports from outside the bloc on the EU's behalf. A senior EU official last week dismissed as "fantasy" some of Britain's main demands for Brexit, including on the Northern Ireland border. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier urged Britain to stop playing "hide and seek." May's spokesman on Tuesday criticised what he called "sound bites and negative anonymous briefings" and called for a more constructive tone to the negotiations. The EEF has previously urged the government to give businesses clarity on what Brexit will look and has warned of possible damage to complex cross-border supply chains. Last week another major employers' group, the Confederation of British Industry said remaining in a customs union was currently the only workable option for Britain. Finance minister Philip Hammond rejected that view.

Manufacturers slam UK Brexit customs idea as naive

The EU's Brexit negotiator urged the British government on Saturday to stop playing "hide and seek" over its aims for trade ties and warned that delays in agreeing on judicial oversight risk wrecking any Brexit deal.

In pointed remarks after an ill-tempered week of talks in Brussels, Michel Barnier insisted he would not be intimidated by what he called a "blame game" from London of accusing the EU of inflexibility in rejecting British demands for close cooperation on security, trade and other issues after Brexit.

In the text of a speech in Portugal to experts in EU law, he accused British leaders of failing to understand that it was the unique legal structures of the EU, to which Britain had contributed for 45 years, which underpinned trust among member states. These, he said, could not be extended to a non-member.

The former French minister's comments come two days after an EU official dismissed as "fantasy" London's ideas for a customs deal, the border with Ireland and other issues.

British ministers said those remarks were not "helpful". Both sides are hoping to make progress on a treaty before Prime Minister Theresa May meets the other 27 EU national leaders in a month in Brussels. They aim to agree a treaty by October.

Barnier said he was ready to have "political level" talks to try to advance in three key areas where uncertainty remains, 10 months before Britain is due to leave in March 2019 -- how to rule on future disputes over the withdrawal treaty, a "backstop" solution for the Irish border and a framework for future ties.

May's government, deeply divided over how to stick close to the EU, is debating whether to drop its rejection of a customs union. Barnier said: "If the United Kingdom would like to change its own red lines, it must tell us. The sooner the better ... A negotiation cannot be a game of hide and seek."

On the issue of the governance of a withdrawal treaty, he repeated the EU's insistence that primacy of the European Court of Justice inside the Union be maintained in regulating any dispute that could not be resolved by a joint committee appointed by the political leadership of both sides.

The role of British judges would be respected, he added.

But "without an agreement on governance, there will be no withdrawal agreement and so no transition period."

Many businesses are counting on a broad status quo between Britain and the EU after Brexit, agreed until the end of 2020.

Barnier also criticised British officials for accusing the EU of inflexibility that would leave gaps in cooperation on security and other areas which would hurt both sides: "I see the temptation of a 'blame game' by which the European Union is responsible for the negative consequences of Brexit," he said.

"But that will not sway us. That will not sway me."

Citing British demands to be allowed to stay inside the EU's data protection system in the interests of EU business, Barnier said this was to miss the importance of the EU's internal rules.

"Let's be clear: Brexit is not and never will be in the interests of EU businesses," he said. "It would not be in those businesses' interests to abandon our autonomy of decisions.

"The United Kingdom must face up to the reality of the Union. It must also face the reality of Brexit ... It is one thing to be inside the Union and another to be on the outside."

In pointed remarks after an ill-tempered week of talks in Brussels, Michel Barnier insisted he would not be intimidated by what he called a "blame game" from London of accusing the EU of inflexibility in rejecting British demands for close cooperation on security, trade and other issues after Brexit

The EU's Brexit negotiator urged the British government on Saturday to stop playing "hide and seek" over its aims for trade ties and warned that delays in agreeing on judicial oversight risk wrecking any Brexit deal. In pointed remarks after an ill-tempered week of talks in Brussels, Michel Barnier insisted he would not be intimidated by what he called a "blame game" from London of accusing the EU of inflexibility in rejecting British demands for close cooperation on security, trade and other issues after Brexit. In the text of a speech in Portugal to experts in EU law, he accused British leaders of failing to understand that it was the unique legal structures of the EU, to which Britain had contributed for 45 years, which underpinned trust among member states. These, he said, could not be extended to a non-member. The former French minister's comments come two days after an EU official dismissed as "fantasy" London's ideas for a customs deal, the border with Ireland and other issues. British ministers said those remarks were not "helpful". Both sides are hoping to make progress on a treaty before Prime Minister Theresa May meets the other 27 EU national leaders in a month in Brussels. They aim to agree a treaty by October. Barnier said he was ready to have "political level" talks to try to advance in three key areas where uncertainty remains, 10 months before Britain is due to leave in March 2019 -- how to rule on future disputes over the withdrawal treaty, a "backstop" solution for the Irish border and a framework for future ties. May's government, deeply divided over how to stick close to the EU, is debating whether to drop its rejection of a customs union. Barnier said: "If the United Kingdom would like to change its own red lines, it must tell us. The sooner the better ... A negotiation cannot be a game of hide and seek." On the issue of the governance of a withdrawal treaty, he repeated the EU's insistence that primacy of the European Court of Justice inside the Union be maintained in regulating any dispute that could not be resolved by a joint committee appointed by the political leadership of both sides. The role of British judges would be respected, he added. But "without an agreement on governance, there will be no withdrawal agreement and so no transition period." Many businesses are counting on a broad status quo between Britain and the EU after Brexit, agreed until the end of 2020. Barnier also criticised British officials for accusing the EU of inflexibility that would leave gaps in cooperation on security and other areas which would hurt both sides: "I see the temptation of a 'blame game' by which the European Union is responsible for the negative consequences of Brexit," he said. "But that will not sway us. That will not sway me." Citing British demands to be allowed to stay inside the EU's data protection system in the interests of EU business, Barnier said this was to miss the importance of the EU's internal rules. "Let's be clear: Brexit is not and never will be in the interests of EU businesses," he said. "It would not be in those businesses' interests to abandon our autonomy of decisions. "The United Kingdom must face up to the reality of the Union. It must also face the reality of Brexit ... It is one thing to be inside the Union and another to be on the outside."

End 'hide and seek' Brexit approach, Barnier tells UK

Pakistan has been identified among three main source countries for money laundering in the UK, according to an analysis by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The agency found that Britain was the prime destination for corrupt 'politically exposed persons'&nbsp(PEPs) to invest their funds and the most common source countries of those funds were Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan.

The UK is a prime destination for foreign corrupt PEPs to launder the proceeds of corruption. Investment in UK property, particularly in London, continues to be an attractive mechanism to launder funds, the NCA notes in its National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018' released last week.

The true scale of PEPs' investment in the UK is not known, however, the source countries that are most commonly seen are Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan,&nbspit adds.

The NCA, a non-ministerial UK government law enforcement agency, found that a small number&nbspof UK-based professional enablers, such as solicitors, accountants, estate agents and trust and company service providers, assist such corrupt individuals in laundering their money in Britain.

The overseas jurisdictions that have the most enduring impact on the UK across the majority of the different money laundering threats are: Russia, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Some of these jurisdictions have large financial sectors which also make them attractive as destinations or transit points for the proceeds of crime, the NCA report notes. 
 
It also warns of a Brexit-related spike in corrupt activities between the UK and countries outside the European Union (EU).

The report states, As the UK moves towards exiting the EU in March 2019, UK-based businesses may look to increase the amount of trade they have with non-EU countries.

"We judge, this will increase the likelihood that UK businesses will come into contact with corrupt markets, particularly in the developing world, raising the risk they will be drawn into corrupt practices."

The agency found that Britain was the prime destination for corrupt 'politically exposed persons' (PEPs) to invest their funds and the most common source countries of those funds were Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan

Pakistan has been identified among three main source countries for money laundering in the UK, according to an analysis by the National Crime Agency (NCA). The agency found that Britain was the prime destination for corrupt 'politically exposed persons' (PEPs) to invest their funds and the most common source countries of those funds were Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan. The UK is a prime destination for foreign corrupt PEPs to launder the proceeds of corruption. Investment in UK property, particularly in London, continues to be an attractive mechanism to launder funds, the NCA notes in its National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018' released last week. The true scale of PEPs' investment in the UK is not known, however, the source countries that are most commonly seen are Russia, Nigeria and Pakistan,&nbspit adds. The NCA, a non-ministerial UK government law enforcement agency, found that a small number&nbspof UK-based professional enablers, such as solicitors, accountants, estate agents and trust and company service providers, assist such corrupt individuals in laundering their money in Britain. The overseas jurisdictions that have the most enduring impact on the UK across the majority of the different money laundering threats are: Russia, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Some of these jurisdictions have large financial sectors which also make them attractive as destinations or transit points for the proceeds of crime, the NCA report notes. It also warns of a Brexit-related spike in corrupt activities between the UK and countries outside the European Union (EU). The report states, As the UK moves towards exiting the EU in March 2019, UK-based businesses may look to increase the amount of trade they have with non-EU countries. "We judge, this will increase the likelihood that UK businesses will come into contact with corrupt markets, particularly in the developing world, raising the risk they will be drawn into corrupt practices."

Pakistan key source of money laundering in UK: Report

The United Kingdom has denied visas&nbsp;to over 1,600 skilled engineers and IT specialists who were offered jobs in the UK between December and March BBC reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, the authorities have cited the reason that they were denied because the number of monthly applying visas exceeded during that period.

Amid the ongoing Brexit issue, locals of UK are threatened with people coming out of UK for employment thus the government has asked employers to focus on recruiting from the UK before looking overseas.

However, reports say that most economists have shown concern on the immigration policy of UK as it may hamper the government's efforts to develop a high-tech economy as hiring talents from other countries would help in innovation.

As per the report of BBC, the home office of UK received a high volume of applications from employers who had offered jobs to workers outside the UK.

Between December and March, 1,226 IT specialists and 383 engineers reportedly denied visas while 1,876 medical professionals and people working in the healthcare sector, 197 teachers and 584 other professions were unable to take up their job offers in the UK due to the formality issues in the UK.

The yearly limit for non-European Union workers to get work visas is set at 20,700 per year with a monthly limit of about 1,600.

Last year in October media reports said that as the British government is seeking to slash the number of immigrants from the European Union following UK's departure there are over 11,000 job vacancies in healthcare service sector.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

According to the report, the authorities have cited the reason that they were denied because the number of monthly applying visas exceeded during that period

The United Kingdom has denied visas to over 1,600 skilled engineers and IT specialists who were offered jobs in the UK between December and March BBC reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the authorities have cited the reason that they were denied because the number of monthly applying visas exceeded during that period. Amid the ongoing Brexit issue, locals of UK are threatened with people coming out of UK for employment thus the government has asked employers to focus on recruiting from the UK before looking overseas. However, reports say that most economists have shown concern on the immigration policy of UK as it may hamper the government's efforts to develop a high-tech economy as hiring talents from other countries would help in innovation. As per the report of BBC, the home office of UK received a high volume of applications from employers who had offered jobs to workers outside the UK. Between December and March, 1,226 IT specialists and 383 engineers reportedly denied visas while 1,876 medical professionals and people working in the healthcare sector, 197 teachers and 584 other professions were unable to take up their job offers in the UK due to the formality issues in the UK. The yearly limit for non-European Union workers to get work visas is set at 20,700 per year with a monthly limit of about 1,600. Last year in October media reports said that as the British government is seeking to slash the number of immigrants from the European Union following UK's departure there are over 11,000 job vacancies in healthcare service sector.

UK denies visa to over 1000 IT professionals and engineers

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Sunday she could be trusted to deliver a good Brexit deal as she tried to mend government rifts over the best way forward.

May's Conservative administration is divided on what sort of customs agreement Britain should have with the European Union after it leaves the bloc.

The splits were laid bare last week when Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed as "crazy" one of May's proposals for future EU customs arrangements.

But the prime minister insisted: "You can trust me to deliver", as she attempted to ease the tensions.

"The path I am setting out is the path to deliver the Brexit people voted for," she wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper.

"Of course, the details are incredibly complex and, as in any negotiation, there will have to be compromises.&nbsp

"I will need your help and support to get there. And in return, my pledge to you is simple: I will not let you down."

May said she had proposed different options for a new customs arrangement with the EU and the government would continue to work on them during the negotiations.

She said her mission in the talks was to build a new, close trading relationship with the EU, put Britain in full control over its immigration policy and taxpayer spending and build closer ties with the world's emerging economies.

She said any deal must protect the United Kingdom's constitutional and economic integrity and honour the Northern Irish peace accords.

"This means there can be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," May wrote.

"Any agreements must create as little friction as possible for trade," she said, adding: "We must not constrain our ability to negotiate trade agreements with other countries around the world by being bound into a customs union."

Final decision looming 
Last year, London put forward two options to ease cross-border trade with the EU but, with Brexit looming, has still yet to make a final decision on which to pursue.

May's preferred option, the customs partnership, was reportedly rejected at a meeting of her senior ministers last week, while Brussels has also condemned it as "magical thinking".

The model would involve Britain collecting EU tariffs on goods heading into the bloc but charging its own on UK-destined products.

A second option, "maximum facilitation", would involve using technology to minimise customs checks, but the EU has also cast doubt on its viability.

A decision is not expected for at least another week, but the clock is ticking ahead of a crucial EU summit in June.

The Sunday Times said May's article was "an appeal for unity as she enters another perilous phase of her premiership".

The main opposition Labour Party called Sunday for parliament to be given the chance to vote on a customs union.

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Sunday she could be trusted to deliver a good Brexit deal as she tried to mend government rifts over the best way forward

British Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Sunday she could be trusted to deliver a good Brexit deal as she tried to mend government rifts over the best way forward. May's Conservative administration is divided on what sort of customs agreement Britain should have with the European Union after it leaves the bloc. The splits were laid bare last week when Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed as "crazy" one of May's proposals for future EU customs arrangements. But the prime minister insisted: "You can trust me to deliver", as she attempted to ease the tensions. "The path I am setting out is the path to deliver the Brexit people voted for," she wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper. "Of course, the details are incredibly complex and, as in any negotiation, there will have to be compromises. "I will need your help and support to get there. And in return, my pledge to you is simple: I will not let you down." May said she had proposed different options for a new customs arrangement with the EU and the government would continue to work on them during the negotiations. She said her mission in the talks was to build a new, close trading relationship with the EU, put Britain in full control over its immigration policy and taxpayer spending and build closer ties with the world's emerging economies. She said any deal must protect the United Kingdom's constitutional and economic integrity and honour the Northern Irish peace accords. "This means there can be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK," May wrote. "Any agreements must create as little friction as possible for trade," she said, adding: "We must not constrain our ability to negotiate trade agreements with other countries around the world by being bound into a customs union." Final decision looming Last year, London put forward two options to ease cross-border trade with the EU but, with Brexit looming, has still yet to make a final decision on which to pursue. May's preferred option, the customs partnership, was reportedly rejected at a meeting of her senior ministers last week, while Brussels has also condemned it as "magical thinking". The model would involve Britain collecting EU tariffs on goods heading into the bloc but charging its own on UK-destined products. A second option, "maximum facilitation", would involve using technology to minimise customs checks, but the EU has also cast doubt on its viability. A decision is not expected for at least another week, but the clock is ticking ahead of a crucial EU summit in June. The Sunday Times said May's article was "an appeal for unity as she enters another perilous phase of her premiership". The main opposition Labour Party called Sunday for parliament to be given the chance to vote on a customs union.

British PM Theresa May says 'trust me' on Brexit

Britain's Electoral Commission has fined Leave.EU, one of the main campaign groups for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, for breaking spending rules.

Leave.EU was fined 70,000 pounds ($95,000) for multiple breaches of electoral law, but the voting regulator said it had found no evidence that Leave.EU received donations or paid-for services from Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy at the centre of a storm over how Facebook data was used in political campaigns.

Leave.EU and Cambridge Analytica had previously denied working together on the Brexit campaign. Leave.EU was not the officially designated "leave" campaign group during the referendum.

Voting regulator, however, said it had found no evidence that Leave.EU received donations or paid-for services from Cambridge Analytica.

Britain's Electoral Commission has fined Leave.EU, one of the main campaign groups for Brexit in the 2016 referendum, for breaking spending rules. Leave.EU was fined 70,000 pounds ($95,000) for multiple breaches of electoral law, but the voting regulator said it had found no evidence that Leave.EU received donations or paid-for services from Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy at the centre of a storm over how Facebook data was used in political campaigns. Leave.EU and Cambridge Analytica had previously denied working together on the Brexit campaign. Leave.EU was not the officially designated "leave" campaign group during the referendum.

Britain's Electoral Commission fines Leave.EU over Brexit vote spending

Britain's upper house of parliament on Tuesday inflicted a new defeat on Prime Minister Theresa May’s government on Tuesday, challenging her decision to fix a date next year to leave the European Union.

The House of Lords voted for an amendment to a draft law, removing a proposed fixed time for a Brexit departure of 11 p.m. on March 29 next year.

The government has already set the clock ticking on a two-year exit process that has so far failed to deliver a divorce deal and which was damaged by her gamble on a snap election which cost her party its majority in parliament.

Some lawmakers criticised the government's plan to impose a specific date for Britain leaving the EU, saying it would create significant difficulties if negotiations with Brussels went down to the wire.

"It creates a rod for the UK negotiators' backs, weakens any UK negotiating position, and adds unnecessary pressure to those in the executive trying to deliver Brexit in a coherent measured fashion," said Arthur Wellesley, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, who introduced the amendment.

"We should give ministers a bit more flexibility to secure and obtain ratification of the best possible deal which will do the least damage to the economy and the national interest."

This is the 12th time in recent weeks that the government has been defeated in the House of Lords on the draft legislation that will formally terminate Britain's EU membership.

The vote can be overturned by the lower house, the House of Commons, but underscores the deep divisions over Brexit across parliament and could encourage lawmakers who hope to derail May's plans to forge a new relationship with the EU.

Earlier, opposition parties in the Lords and rebels in May's Conservative Party voted in favour of the amendment that means Britain should participate in EU agencies after leaving the bloc next year.

The government has proposed retaining membership of some EU agencies for medicine, chemicals and aviation while leaving others after Brexit.

Britain is likely to leave the EU police agency Europol and lose automatic membership to bodies like the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Environment Agency.

Agencies that oversee Europe's banks and pharmaceutical sector have announced they will move from London to cities on the continent after Brexit, highlighting potential job losses for Britain's economy from leaving the EU.

After the Lords, the bill will return to the House of Commons. Both houses have to agree on the final wording of the bill before it can become law.

Lawmakers will have to decide whether to back the government or reject the law — with the risk that Britain could crash out of the EU next year without any deal in place.

This is the penultimate session for the bill in the upper chamber during the report stage, where members have already voted in favour of amendments including to compel ministers to seek a form of customs union with the EU.

The upper house voted for an amendment to a draft law

Britain's upper house of parliament on Tuesday inflicted a new defeat on Prime Minister Theresa May’s government on Tuesday, challenging her decision to fix a date next year to leave the European Union. The House of Lords voted for an amendment to a draft law, removing a proposed fixed time for a Brexit departure of 11 p.m. on March 29 next year. The government has already set the clock ticking on a two-year exit process that has so far failed to deliver a divorce deal and which was damaged by her gamble on a snap election which cost her party its majority in parliament. Some lawmakers criticised the government's plan to impose a specific date for Britain leaving the EU, saying it would create significant difficulties if negotiations with Brussels went down to the wire. "It creates a rod for the UK negotiators' backs, weakens any UK negotiating position, and adds unnecessary pressure to those in the executive trying to deliver Brexit in a coherent measured fashion," said Arthur Wellesley, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, who introduced the amendment. "We should give ministers a bit more flexibility to secure and obtain ratification of the best possible deal which will do the least damage to the economy and the national interest." This is the 12th time in recent weeks that the government has been defeated in the House of Lords on the draft legislation that will formally terminate Britain's EU membership. The vote can be overturned by the lower house, the House of Commons, but underscores the deep divisions over Brexit across parliament and could encourage lawmakers who hope to derail May's plans to forge a new relationship with the EU. Earlier, opposition parties in the Lords and rebels in May's Conservative Party voted in favour of the amendment that means Britain should participate in EU agencies after leaving the bloc next year. The government has proposed retaining membership of some EU agencies for medicine, chemicals and aviation while leaving others after Brexit. Britain is likely to leave the EU police agency Europol and lose automatic membership to bodies like the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Environment Agency. Agencies that oversee Europe's banks and pharmaceutical sector have announced they will move from London to cities on the continent after Brexit, highlighting potential job losses for Britain's economy from leaving the EU. After the Lords, the bill will return to the House of Commons. Both houses have to agree on the final wording of the bill before it can become law. Lawmakers will have to decide whether to back the government or reject the law — with the risk that Britain could crash out of the EU next year without any deal in place. This is the penultimate session for the bill in the upper chamber during the report stage, where members have already voted in favour of amendments including to compel ministers to seek a form of customs union with the EU.

UK government's plans for fixed Brexit date defeated in House of Lords

The European Commission on Wednesday announced plans to increase their post-Brexit budget to 1.279-trillion-euro that will trigger battles among member states over how to fill the funding gap left by Britain’s exit next year.

Bureaucrats have published the first draft Multiannual Financial Framework, which will run from 2021 to 2027 - the first directly affected by Brexit - and it is thought the loss of the UK’s contribution will have a major impact on the scope of the EU’s spending power from 2021.

During the 2021-27 period it would trim the biggest single item, farm subsidies, by 5 per cent and wants a new plastics tax. It would spend more on research and technology, foreign aid, euro zone stability, compensation for job losses from open trade and on joint defense and frontier guards.

It also introduces a new mechanism to penalize countries — notably in the ex-communist east — where governments breach EU rules on ensuring judicial freedom and the rule of law. These could find some of their important EU funding being withheld.

“With today’s proposal we have put forward a pragmatic plan for how to do more with less,” said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

“A budget for a Europe that protects, empowers and defends,” declared the Commission, urging the remaining 27 member states to make up the shortfall of at least 10 billion euros ($12 billion) a year to be caused by Brexit after 2020.

That language reflects a campaign from Brussels to persuade voters the bloc remains relevant after a decade of crisis that has seen ferocious austerity in countries hit by the euro zone debt crisis and uproar over the arrival of more than a million irregular migrants across the Mediterranean in 2015 alone.

“A Europe that protects,” has also become a familiar demand from French President Emmanuel Macron, as he tries to work with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tighten integration after the ever-skeptical British have left, while easing fears among voters that the EU means open borders and jobs exported abroad.

The German government reacted cautiously but the priorities it set out echoed many of those from the EU executive — tougher border control, more EU defense cooperation, tech innovation and a stronger defense of democratic values in Europe.

While, the EU’s largest budget contributor, Germany, has said it stands ready to pump in more cash to the Brussels machine, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Sweden have raised concerns over stumping up any more cash to prop up the bloc in the wake of the UK’s departure.

For the first time, the Commission will create a “rule of law” mechanism that ties budget payments to a country’s respect for EU values. Brussels insists the rules will not be used to target the likes of Hungary and Poland with whom it has tussled over independent judiciaries.

It repeated its readiness, like France, to pick up a bigger bill if the budget strengthens the Union: “But that,” it added, “includes fair burden-sharing among all member states.”

The proposed budget of 1.28 trillion euros in inflation-adjusted future prices — or 1.14 trillion euros at 2018 prices — would be greater in real terms than the 1.09 trillion euros in the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework.

It will be around 1.11 percent of the bloc’s economic output, the Commission said, up from the current 1.03 per cent. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

The proposed budget of 1.28 trillion euros in inflation-adjusted future prices — or 1.14 trillion euros at 2018 prices — would be greater in real terms than the 1.09 trillion euros in the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework

The European Commission on Wednesday announced plans to increase their post-Brexit budget to 1.279-trillion-euro that will trigger battles among member states over how to fill the funding gap left by Britain’s exit next year. Bureaucrats have published the first draft Multiannual Financial Framework, which will run from 2021 to 2027 - the first directly affected by Brexit - and it is thought the loss of the UK’s contribution will have a major impact on the scope of the EU’s spending power from 2021. During the 2021-27 period it would trim the biggest single item, farm subsidies, by 5 per cent and wants a new plastics tax. It would spend more on research and technology, foreign aid, euro zone stability, compensation for job losses from open trade and on joint defense and frontier guards. It also introduces a new mechanism to penalize countries — notably in the ex-communist east — where governments breach EU rules on ensuring judicial freedom and the rule of law. These could find some of their important EU funding being withheld. “With today’s proposal we have put forward a pragmatic plan for how to do more with less,” said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. “A budget for a Europe that protects, empowers and defends,” declared the Commission, urging the remaining 27 member states to make up the shortfall of at least 10 billion euros ($12 billion) a year to be caused by Brexit after 2020. That language reflects a campaign from Brussels to persuade voters the bloc remains relevant after a decade of crisis that has seen ferocious austerity in countries hit by the euro zone debt crisis and uproar over the arrival of more than a million irregular migrants across the Mediterranean in 2015 alone. “A Europe that protects,” has also become a familiar demand from French President Emmanuel Macron, as he tries to work with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tighten integration after the ever-skeptical British have left, while easing fears among voters that the EU means open borders and jobs exported abroad. The German government reacted cautiously but the priorities it set out echoed many of those from the EU executive — tougher border control, more EU defense cooperation, tech innovation and a stronger defense of democratic values in Europe. While, the EU’s largest budget contributor, Germany, has said it stands ready to pump in more cash to the Brussels machine, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Sweden have raised concerns over stumping up any more cash to prop up the bloc in the wake of the UK’s departure. For the first time, the Commission will create a “rule of law” mechanism that ties budget payments to a country’s respect for EU values. Brussels insists the rules will not be used to target the likes of Hungary and Poland with whom it has tussled over independent judiciaries. It repeated its readiness, like France, to pick up a bigger bill if the budget strengthens the Union: “But that,” it added, “includes fair burden-sharing among all member states.” The proposed budget of 1.28 trillion euros in inflation-adjusted future prices — or 1.14 trillion euros at 2018 prices — would be greater in real terms than the 1.09 trillion euros in the 2014-20 Multiannual Financial Framework. It will be around 1.11 percent of the bloc’s economic output, the Commission said, up from the current 1.03 per cent. (With inputs from Reuters)

EU announces plans to boost post-Brexit budget to Euro 1.25 trillion

The UK government today faced an embarrassing defeat on Brexit as the House of Lords voted to give Parliament powers to block or delay the final deal on the country's departure from the European Union (EU).

The peers from the Upper House voted 335 to 244 in favour of an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that could allow Parliament to send Britain back to the negotiating table with Brussels or even halt the country's exit from the EU if it is not happy with the final offer.

"We are disappointed that the House of Lords has voted for this amendment inspite of the assurances we have provided," said Lord Martin Callanan, Britain's Minister for Exiting the EU.

"What this amendment would do is weaken the UK's hand in our negotiations with the EU by giving Parliament unprecedented powers to instruct the government to do anything with regard to the negotiations including trying to keep the UK in the EU indefinitely," he said, adding that the government will now consider the implications of the House of Lords' decision.

The amendment to the Bill can be overturned by MPs in the House of Commons, where British Prime Minister Theresa May's government has a narrow majority.

The government maintains that it is open to Parliament being able to scrutinise the final deal, and has therefore committed to giving both Houses a vote on the final deal.

But on Monday the House of Lords voted for what they believe is a more meaningful say over the final Brexit offer.

Peers have already defeated the government six times, with the vote on the latest amendment tabled by Lord Hailsham marking the seventh defeat.

Meanwhile, there is mounting pressure on the UK from another quarter as the EU's chief Brexit negotiator said that Britain and the EU must reach an agreement on the key points of the Northern Ireland border issue by June.

Michel Barnier, who was speaking at a conference in the Irish border town of Dundalk on Monday, warned that talks were at risk of collapse if no agreement was made on a "backstop" to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland once Britain is a non-member of the EU.

The issue of border arrangements between EU member Ireland and soon-to-be non-member Northern Ireland are seen as a major stumbling block in the ongoing negotiations.

The amendment to the Bill can be overturned by MPs in the House of Commons, where British Prime Minister Theresa May's government has a narrow majority.

The UK government today faced an embarrassing defeat on Brexit as the House of Lords voted to give Parliament powers to block or delay the final deal on the country's departure from the European Union (EU). The peers from the Upper House voted 335 to 244 in favour of an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that could allow Parliament to send Britain back to the negotiating table with Brussels or even halt the country's exit from the EU if it is not happy with the final offer. "We are disappointed that the House of Lords has voted for this amendment inspite of the assurances we have provided," said Lord Martin Callanan, Britain's Minister for Exiting the EU. "What this amendment would do is weaken the UK's hand in our negotiations with the EU by giving Parliament unprecedented powers to instruct the government to do anything with regard to the negotiations including trying to keep the UK in the EU indefinitely," he said, adding that the government will now consider the implications of the House of Lords' decision. The amendment to the Bill can be overturned by MPs in the House of Commons, where British Prime Minister Theresa May's government has a narrow majority. The government maintains that it is open to Parliament being able to scrutinise the final deal, and has therefore committed to giving both Houses a vote on the final deal. But on Monday the House of Lords voted for what they believe is a more meaningful say over the final Brexit offer. Peers have already defeated the government six times, with the vote on the latest amendment tabled by Lord Hailsham marking the seventh defeat. Meanwhile, there is mounting pressure on the UK from another quarter as the EU's chief Brexit negotiator said that Britain and the EU must reach an agreement on the key points of the Northern Ireland border issue by June. Michel Barnier, who was speaking at a conference in the Irish border town of Dundalk on Monday, warned that talks were at risk of collapse if no agreement was made on a "backstop" to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland once Britain is a non-member of the EU. The issue of border arrangements between EU member Ireland and soon-to-be non-member Northern Ireland are seen as a major stumbling block in the ongoing negotiations.

UK government suffers Brexit defeat in House of Lords

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday extolled the benefits of free trade among Commonwealth countries, seeking new sources of commerce as Britain looks to finalise divorce terms with its current biggest trading partner, the European Union.

May is looking to win the support of the Commonwealth, a network of mostly former British colonies, for future trade deals at a meeting of its leaders in London, and bolster her argument that the future is bright after Brexit.

The Commonwealth, headed by Queen Elizabeth, is not a formal trading bloc with a free-trade agreement. In 2015 it accounted for only 9 per cent of British exports while by contrast the EU, which Britain voted to leave in 2016, accounted for around 44 per cent.

Speaking at the opening of a Commonwealth business forum, May urged the use of common standards across the network of 53 countries, warning that global growth was fragile and that protectionism posed a clear threat to the world economy.&nbsp

"With its unique scope and global voice, such a Commonwealth can set a powerful example to the world, one that demonstrates and underlines the importance of protecting free trade and the rules-based international order," she said.

"Freer and easier trade means stronger economies, more jobs, more choice and lower prices."

The lavish week-long Commonwealth meeting, split across landmark locations in London, is likely to be overshadowed by May's decision to join US&nbspand French air strikes on Syria on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack.

Commonwealth family

Britain's appeal to the Commonwealth comes as Brexit negotiators prepare to begin work on a future trade agreement with the EU, which the government hopes will allow frictionless trade with the bloc to continue. The EU has said Britain cannot enjoy the benefits of its single market after leaving.

May's ministers have spent much of their time since the 2016 exit vote touring the globe, touting Britain`s ability to negotiate its own trade deals with countries including Commonwealth states such as Australia, India, and New Zealand as one of the main benefits of life outside the EU.&nbsp

"Our Commonwealth family already accounts for one-fifth of global trade," May said in a statement before the meeting.

"And we must continue to work together to build further upon this solid foundation by building on our existing trade links and establishing new ones."

May announced new programmes to free up trade, improve the skills of young people and boost women`s participation in business, including an offer of 7 million pounds ($10 million) in Commonwealth-wide support to boost businesses owned by women in countries where being female is a professional barrier.

May also announced funding for a new Commonwealth Standards Network to establish a common language for goods and services to help boost trade.

Theresa May is looking to win the support of the Commonwealth, a network of mostly former British colonies, for future trade deals at a meeting of its leaders in London, and bolster her argument that the future is bright after Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday extolled the benefits of free trade among Commonwealth countries, seeking new sources of commerce as Britain looks to finalise divorce terms with its current biggest trading partner, the European Union. May is looking to win the support of the Commonwealth, a network of mostly former British colonies, for future trade deals at a meeting of its leaders in London, and bolster her argument that the future is bright after Brexit. The Commonwealth, headed by Queen Elizabeth, is not a formal trading bloc with a free-trade agreement. In 2015 it accounted for only 9 per cent of British exports while by contrast the EU, which Britain voted to leave in 2016, accounted for around 44 per cent. Speaking at the opening of a Commonwealth business forum, May urged the use of common standards across the network of 53 countries, warning that global growth was fragile and that protectionism posed a clear threat to the world economy. "With its unique scope and global voice, such a Commonwealth can set a powerful example to the world, one that demonstrates and underlines the importance of protecting free trade and the rules-based international order," she said. "Freer and easier trade means stronger economies, more jobs, more choice and lower prices." The lavish week-long Commonwealth meeting, split across landmark locations in London, is likely to be overshadowed by May's decision to join US&nbspand French air strikes on Syria on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack. Commonwealth family Britain's appeal to the Commonwealth comes as Brexit negotiators prepare to begin work on a future trade agreement with the EU, which the government hopes will allow frictionless trade with the bloc to continue. The EU has said Britain cannot enjoy the benefits of its single market after leaving. May's ministers have spent much of their time since the 2016 exit vote touring the globe, touting Britain`s ability to negotiate its own trade deals with countries including Commonwealth states such as Australia, India, and New Zealand as one of the main benefits of life outside the EU. "Our Commonwealth family already accounts for one-fifth of global trade," May said in a statement before the meeting. "And we must continue to work together to build further upon this solid foundation by building on our existing trade links and establishing new ones." May announced new programmes to free up trade, improve the skills of young people and boost women`s participation in business, including an offer of 7 million pounds ($10 million) in Commonwealth-wide support to boost businesses owned by women in countries where being female is a professional barrier. May also announced funding for a new Commonwealth Standards Network to establish a common language for goods and services to help boost trade.

Theresa May seeks Commonwealth trade boost as final Brexit talks begin

British fishermen launched protests in ports around the country Sunday over perceived capitulation to the European Union in Brexit negotiations.

Organisers estimated as many as 200 vessels could participate in the day-long nationwide action, forming flotillas bearing flags and sounding horns as people also demonstrate on docksides.

"Fishermen and fishing communities are enraged that the government has capitulated to Britain having to obey all EU law after Brexit," said the pro-Brexit organising group Fishing for Leave, in a statement.

"Fishermen fear the EU will be able to enforce ill-founded rules to cull the British fleet and use international law to claim the resources the UK would no longer be able to catch."

Protests began in Newcastle, where a 15-boat flotilla assembled Sunday morning, before others mustered in Milford Haven, Wales, and Plymouth, southwest England, later in the day.

Further demonstrations were set for other sites, including Whitstable, Kent, where up to 40 vessels are expected and organisers plan to burn a disused boat in a shore-side bonfire during the evening.&nbsp

"I think this is going to draw attention -- we want our voice heard," said Brendon Hall, 21, of Teignmouth, Devon, who followed his father into the industry four years ago and had sailed to Plymouth to protest.

"The main part of the leave campaign was leaving the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy) but we`re staying in with no veto and no say," he added, referring to the 2016 referendum that saw Britons vote for Brexit.

A draft deal struck with the EU last month will effectively keep Britain bound by the CFP -- which ensures equal access to member states` waters and sets quotas on catch -- during a 20-month transition period following its formal departure from the bloc on March 29 next year.

Fishing for Leave spokesman Alan Hastings said the agreement was a "death sentence" for the industry, "as the EU will be free to enforce and impose detrimental rules on us to cull what`s left of the UK fleet."

A petition posted on the British parliament`s website calling on the Government to abandon adopting the CFP post-Brexit has garnered more than 61,000 petitions.

After 100,000 signatures, a petition is considered for debate in the House of Commons.

The government has insisted Britain will be leaving the CFP when it departs the EU, and will negotiate a new fisheries policy independently from December 2020.

"Fishermen and fishing communities are enraged that the government has capitulated to Britain having to obey all EU law after Brexit," said the pro-Brexit organising group Fishing for Leave, in a statement

British fishermen launched protests in ports around the country Sunday over perceived capitulation to the European Union in Brexit negotiations. Organisers estimated as many as 200 vessels could participate in the day-long nationwide action, forming flotillas bearing flags and sounding horns as people also demonstrate on docksides. "Fishermen and fishing communities are enraged that the government has capitulated to Britain having to obey all EU law after Brexit," said the pro-Brexit organising group Fishing for Leave, in a statement. "Fishermen fear the EU will be able to enforce ill-founded rules to cull the British fleet and use international law to claim the resources the UK would no longer be able to catch." Protests began in Newcastle, where a 15-boat flotilla assembled Sunday morning, before others mustered in Milford Haven, Wales, and Plymouth, southwest England, later in the day. Further demonstrations were set for other sites, including Whitstable, Kent, where up to 40 vessels are expected and organisers plan to burn a disused boat in a shore-side bonfire during the evening. "I think this is going to draw attention -- we want our voice heard," said Brendon Hall, 21, of Teignmouth, Devon, who followed his father into the industry four years ago and had sailed to Plymouth to protest. "The main part of the leave campaign was leaving the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy) but we`re staying in with no veto and no say," he added, referring to the 2016 referendum that saw Britons vote for Brexit. A draft deal struck with the EU last month will effectively keep Britain bound by the CFP -- which ensures equal access to member states` waters and sets quotas on catch -- during a 20-month transition period following its formal departure from the bloc on March 29 next year. Fishing for Leave spokesman Alan Hastings said the agreement was a "death sentence" for the industry, "as the EU will be free to enforce and impose detrimental rules on us to cull what`s left of the UK fleet." A petition posted on the British parliament`s website calling on the Government to abandon adopting the CFP post-Brexit has garnered more than 61,000 petitions. After 100,000 signatures, a petition is considered for debate in the House of Commons. The government has insisted Britain will be leaving the CFP when it departs the EU, and will negotiate a new fisheries policy independently from December 2020.

UK fishermen launch nationwide protests over Brexit

Prime Minister Theresa May promised Britain bright prospects outside the European Union on Thursday as she toured a country still profoundly divided about its future as the countdown to Brexit enters its final 12 months.

Britain is on course to leave the European Union at 2300 GMT on March 29, 2019, severing ties that helped define its national identity, its laws, and its international stature over 46 years of integration with European neighbours.

The people of Britain, the world's sixth-largest economy, caused a major global shock in 2016 by voting narrowly to quit the EU after a fevered referendum campaign that sharpened regional divisions, pitted young against old and exposed a deep distrust between voters and the political establishment.

In the 21 months since the referendum, May, who became prime minister in the resulting political chaos, has struggled to unite the country behind a single vision of Brexit.

Voters' disparate views on leaving are entrenched, and few have any certainty about Britain's long-term future.

May will meet voters in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a whirlwind tour designed as a rallying cry for the union between the four nations of the United Kingdom, and to paint a positive post-Brexit vision.

"I am determined that our future will be a bright one," she said ahead of the roughly 800-mile (1,280 km) trip ending in London.

Starting her tour in Scotland, May met workers in a textile factory, focusing on the future benefits she said Brexit could bring for trade.

"I believe that we can negotiate a good agreement which is tariff-free and as frictionless trade as possible, so we maintain those markets in the EU, but also that we open up market around the rest of the world. Brexit provides us with opportunities," she told broadcasters.

The EU maintains that by leaving its single market and customs union, Britain will be making trade more difficult.

EU Council President Donald Tusk has remarked that any trade deal with Britain would be the first in history to loosen economic links rather than strengthen them.

Long way to go

May, 61, has 12 months to plot a successful course through difficult political and economic terrain.

Brexiteers fret that the EU divorce is taking too long and could be reversed. Pro-EU campaigners still push for a less radical exit or a second referendum.

A ComRes opinion poll published on Thursday showed 44 per cent of people thought the government's handling of the negotiations had been "a total shambles". Only 29 per cent were optimistic their households would be better off after Brexit.

Britain's economy has defied pre-referendum predictions of a swift plunge into recession, buoyed in part by stronger global growth. But longer term forecasts show growth grinding lower over the next five years and lagging international rivals.

At home, May only has a small majority in parliament and must find a way to corral her Conservative Party, which is still split over the best Brexit plan, into backing legislation that will prepare Britain for life outside the bloc.

That task has so far swamped her government and its administrative machine, leading to accusations she has taken the eye off the ball on domestic policy and given the socialist-led Labour Party a chance to build support ahead of a 2022 election.

In Brussels, May's ministers have won little in the way of concessions from the EU negotiating team, setting a difficult tone for upcoming talks on long-term trading ties - particularly when it comes to the future of Britain's economic engine: its financial services sector.

But, a transitional deal that effectively keeps Britain inside the EU single market until the end of 2020, agreed in principle last week with Brussels, has calmed anxious businesses and bought May time to work out the details of post-Brexit policy.

Among those challenges will be holding together the United Kingdom, made up of four nations which diverged at the referendum: Wales and England voted to leave the EU, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain.

Scotland and Wales are drawing up contingency plans to protect their own interests in case they cannot reach agreement with May on how powers regained from Brussels are redistributed.

Northern Ireland is into a second year of a political crisis that has left it without a devolved administration, and the future management of its land border with EU-member Ireland is one of the thorniest issues outstanding in talks with Brussels.

Against that backdrop, May's tour is focused on meeting a cross-section of voters to reassure them that she is working to tear down the barriers thrown up by the referendum, and that whether they voted "Leave" or "Remain", they will be better off after Brexit.

"I am determined that as we leave the EU, and in the years ahead, we will strengthen the bonds that unite us, because ours is the world’s most successful union," she said in her statement.

Prime Minister Theresa May promised Britain bright prospects outside the European Union on Thursday as she toured a country still profoundly divided about its future as the countdown to Brexit enters its final 12 months

Prime Minister Theresa May promised Britain bright prospects outside the European Union on Thursday as she toured a country still profoundly divided about its future as the countdown to Brexit enters its final 12 months. Britain is on course to leave the European Union at 2300 GMT on March 29, 2019, severing ties that helped define its national identity, its laws, and its international stature over 46 years of integration with European neighbours. The people of Britain, the world's sixth-largest economy, caused a major global shock in 2016 by voting narrowly to quit the EU after a fevered referendum campaign that sharpened regional divisions, pitted young against old and exposed a deep distrust between voters and the political establishment. In the 21 months since the referendum, May, who became prime minister in the resulting political chaos, has struggled to unite the country behind a single vision of Brexit. Voters' disparate views on leaving are entrenched, and few have any certainty about Britain's long-term future. May will meet voters in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a whirlwind tour designed as a rallying cry for the union between the four nations of the United Kingdom, and to paint a positive post-Brexit vision. "I am determined that our future will be a bright one," she said ahead of the roughly 800-mile (1,280 km) trip ending in London. Starting her tour in Scotland, May met workers in a textile factory, focusing on the future benefits she said Brexit could bring for trade. "I believe that we can negotiate a good agreement which is tariff-free and as frictionless trade as possible, so we maintain those markets in the EU, but also that we open up market around the rest of the world. Brexit provides us with opportunities," she told broadcasters. The EU maintains that by leaving its single market and customs union, Britain will be making trade more difficult. EU Council President Donald Tusk has remarked that any trade deal with Britain would be the first in history to loosen economic links rather than strengthen them. Long way to go May, 61, has 12 months to plot a successful course through difficult political and economic terrain. Brexiteers fret that the EU divorce is taking too long and could be reversed. Pro-EU campaigners still push for a less radical exit or a second referendum. A ComRes opinion poll published on Thursday showed 44 per cent of people thought the government's handling of the negotiations had been "a total shambles". Only 29 per cent were optimistic their households would be better off after Brexit. Britain's economy has defied pre-referendum predictions of a swift plunge into recession, buoyed in part by stronger global growth. But longer term forecasts show growth grinding lower over the next five years and lagging international rivals. At home, May only has a small majority in parliament and must find a way to corral her Conservative Party, which is still split over the best Brexit plan, into backing legislation that will prepare Britain for life outside the bloc. That task has so far swamped her government and its administrative machine, leading to accusations she has taken the eye off the ball on domestic policy and given the socialist-led Labour Party a chance to build support ahead of a 2022 election. In Brussels, May's ministers have won little in the way of concessions from the EU negotiating team, setting a difficult tone for upcoming talks on long-term trading ties - particularly when it comes to the future of Britain's economic engine: its financial services sector. But, a transitional deal that effectively keeps Britain inside the EU single market until the end of 2020, agreed in principle last week with Brussels, has calmed anxious businesses and bought May time to work out the details of post-Brexit policy. Among those challenges will be holding together the United Kingdom, made up of four nations which diverged at the referendum: Wales and England voted to leave the EU, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain. Scotland and Wales are drawing up contingency plans to protect their own interests in case they cannot reach agreement with May on how powers regained from Brussels are redistributed. Northern Ireland is into a second year of a political crisis that has left it without a devolved administration, and the future management of its land border with EU-member Ireland is one of the thorniest issues outstanding in talks with Brussels. Against that backdrop, May's tour is focused on meeting a cross-section of voters to reassure them that she is working to tear down the barriers thrown up by the referendum, and that whether they voted "Leave" or "Remain", they will be better off after Brexit. "I am determined that as we leave the EU, and in the years ahead, we will strengthen the bonds that unite us, because ours is the world’s most successful union," she said in her statement.

The future is bright, vows PM May on tour of Brexit-divided country

Anti-Brexit group Best for Britain on Wednesday unveiled a nationwide billboard campaign as part of a bid to force another public vote on leaving the European Union.

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The campaign will also include posters, social media and other digital advertisements aimed at both Leave and Remain voters.

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Billboards will this week appear at London hubs Leicester Square, Westfield Stratford and Canary Wharf as well as in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

The campaign comes as Britain begins a one-year countdown from Thursday to its scheduled departure date from the bloc.

Advertisements calling for a "People's Vote" on the final Brexit deal will also appear in the Evening Standard and The Guardian newspapers.

"The campaign is aimed at involving the public into the campaign calling for a public vote on the Brexit deal," Best for Britain said in a statement.

The campaign has not specified the terms of the vote they are calling for, and what would happen if the deal were rejected.

The posters feature British citizens from various walks of life under the words "When will we know what we voted for?" Chair of Best for Britain Mark Malloch-Brown said that voters were "profoundly and increasingly frustrated that they still do not know what Brexit means."

"This government's strategy to fudge, dodge and delay their way to a rubber stamp vote in October is already beginning to unravel.

This media campaign simply aims to hasten that process," he explained.

The campaign group hit the headlines last month when it emerged that it had received a £400,0000 donation from billionaire investor George Soros. The revelation led to accusations from the pro-Brexit newspaper The Daily Telegraph that he was leading a "campaign to overturn" the June 2016 vote.

Anti-Brexit group Best for Britain on Wednesday unveiled a nationwide billboard campaign as part of a bid to force another public vote on leaving the European Union

Anti-Brexit group Best for Britain on Wednesday unveiled a nationwide billboard campaign as part of a bid to force another public vote on leaving the European Union. Also read: In a new chapter in India-Israel ties, Air India's maiden direct flight lands at Tel Aviv The campaign will also include posters, social media and other digital advertisements aimed at both Leave and Remain voters. Also read: Saudi gives Air India overflight rights for its Israel routes Track Air India Flight Billboards will this week appear at London hubs Leicester Square, Westfield Stratford and Canary Wharf as well as in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. The campaign comes as Britain begins a one-year countdown from Thursday to its scheduled departure date from the bloc. Advertisements calling for a "People's Vote" on the final Brexit deal will also appear in the Evening Standard and The Guardian newspapers. "The campaign is aimed at involving the public into the campaign calling for a public vote on the Brexit deal," Best for Britain said in a statement. The campaign has not specified the terms of the vote they are calling for, and what would happen if the deal were rejected. The posters feature British citizens from various walks of life under the words "When will we know what we voted for?" Chair of Best for Britain Mark Malloch-Brown said that voters were "profoundly and increasingly frustrated that they still do not know what Brexit means." "This government's strategy to fudge, dodge and delay their way to a rubber stamp vote in October is already beginning to unravel. This media campaign simply aims to hasten that process," he explained. The campaign group hit the headlines last month when it emerged that it had received a £400,0000 donation from billionaire investor George Soros. The revelation led to accusations from the pro-Brexit newspaper The Daily Telegraph that he was leading a "campaign to overturn" the June 2016 vote.

UK billboards call for 'People's Vote' on Brexit deal

Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie at a public hearing told the British Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports Committee that a Canadian company AggregateIQ worked on software called Ripon which was used to identify Republican voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.&nbsp;

"There's no tangible proof in the public domain that AIQ actually built Ripon, which is the software that utilised the algorithms from the Facebook data," Wylie told the committee.

Ripon, the town in which the Republican Party was founded in 1854, was the name allegedly given to a tool that let a campaign manage its voter database, target specific voters, conduct canvassing, manage fundraising and carry out surveys.

Wylie had earlier revealed how Facebook data was used by a British firm Cambridge Analytica in helping the Trump presidential campaign in 2016.

Meanwhile, a London law firm Bindmans said electoral offences were committed during the Brexit campaign in breach of UK vote rules.

"There is a prima facie case that the following electoral offences were committed by Vote Leave in the EU referendum campaign," Bindmans said.

Vote Leave ultimately declared campaign costs of just over £6.7 million - under the £7 million legal limit - of which nearly £2.7 million was spent on services by AIQ.

'There's no tangible proof in the public domain that AIQ actually built Ripon, which is the software that utilised the algorithms from the Facebook data,' Wylie told the committee.

Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie at a public hearing told the British Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports Committee that a Canadian company AggregateIQ worked on software called Ripon which was used to identify Republican voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. "There's no tangible proof in the public domain that AIQ actually built Ripon, which is the software that utilised the algorithms from the Facebook data," Wylie told the committee. Ripon, the town in which the Republican Party was founded in 1854, was the name allegedly given to a tool that let a campaign manage its voter database, target specific voters, conduct canvassing, manage fundraising and carry out surveys. Wylie had earlier revealed how Facebook data was used by a British firm Cambridge Analytica in helping the Trump presidential campaign in 2016. Meanwhile, a London law firm Bindmans said electoral offences were committed during the Brexit campaign in breach of UK vote rules. "There is a prima facie case that the following electoral offences were committed by Vote Leave in the EU referendum campaign," Bindmans said. Vote Leave ultimately declared campaign costs of just over £6.7 million - under the £7 million legal limit - of which nearly £2.7 million was spent on services by AIQ.

AIQ built Ripon to utilise Facebook data: Cambridge Analytica whistleblower

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Clashes between the members of Karnataka&#39;s Lingayat and Veerashaiva communities broke out on Monday in the state&#39;s Kalaburagi district hours after the Karnataka government approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-government-gives-nod-to-separate-religion-for-lingayats-36379">separate religion minority status</a>&nbsp;for the Lingayat and the Veerashaiva Lingayat community.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vk-sasikalas-husband-natarajan-maruthappa-passes-away-at-75-36422" target="_blank">VK Sasikala&#39;s husband Natarajan Maruthappa dead at 75</a>

VK Sasikala&#39;s husband Natarajan Maruthappa&nbsp;passed away due to multiple organ failures at Gleneagles Global Health City in Chennai.Maruthappa&nbsp;was admitted to the hospital on March 16 due to a severe chest infection.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/britain-eu-agree-brexit-transition-deal-36429" target="_blank">Britain, EU agree Brexit transition deal</a>

Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will see London follow the bloc&#39;s rules for nearly two years after the Brexit divorce.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/progressive-people-of-pakistan-eager-to-have-friendly-ties-with-india-muttahida-qaumi-movement-mqm-founder-36425" target="_blank">Progressive people of Pakistan eager to have friendly ties with India: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder</a>

The founder leader of Pakistan&#39;s political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, has claimed that he has never been against the country and only wants to eliminate the repressive and exploitative feudal system from there.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-under-pressure-as-us-eu-urge-probes-of-data-practices-36433" target="_blank">Facebook under pressure as US, EU urge probes of data practices</a>

British privacy regulators are seeking a warrant to search the offices of the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica late Monday following reports that the company may have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-suspends-trump-campaign-data-firm-cambridge-analytica-36332" target="_blank">improperly gained access</a>&nbsp;to data on 50 million Facebook users, according to a Channel 4 television report.

Clashes after Karnataka gives separate religion status to Lingayats Clashes between the members of Karnataka's Lingayat and Veerashaiva communities broke out on Monday in the state's Kalaburagi district hours after the Karnataka government approved separate religion minority status for the Lingayat and the Veerashaiva Lingayat community. VK Sasikala's husband Natarajan Maruthappa dead at 75 VK Sasikala's husband Natarajan Maruthappa passed away due to multiple organ failures at Gleneagles Global Health City in Chennai.Maruthappa was admitted to the hospital on March 16 due to a severe chest infection. Britain, EU agree Brexit transition deal Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will see London follow the bloc's rules for nearly two years after the Brexit divorce. Progressive people of Pakistan eager to have friendly ties with India: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder The founder leader of Pakistan's political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, has claimed that he has never been against the country and only wants to eliminate the repressive and exploitative feudal system from there. Facebook under pressure as US, EU urge probes of data practices British privacy regulators are seeking a warrant to search the offices of the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica late Monday following reports that the company may have improperly gained access to data on 50 million Facebook users, according to a Channel 4 television report.

WION Morning News Brief, March 20, 2018

Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will see London follow the bloc&#39;s rules for nearly two years after the Brexit divorce.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart David Davis said the agreement, which European leaders will sign at a summit this week, was a &quot;decisive step&quot;.

The two sides also agreed on a &quot;backstop&quot; solution for the thorny issue of the future of the Irish border, just weeks after Prime Minister Theresa May said no British premier could ever accept such an idea.

The deal, secured after what Frenchman Barnier called an &quot;intensive&quot; weekend of talks in Brussels, paves the way for talks on a future trade deal to start next month and sent the pound surging.

&quot;We were able this morning to agree, after all those days and nights of hard work, on a large part of what will be an international agreement for the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom,&quot; Barnier told a press conference with Davis.

The transition will begin on Brexit day -- March 29, 2019 -- and last until December 31, 2020. During that period, Britain &quot;will no longer participate in the European Union decision-making process,&quot; Barnier said.

&quot;Nevertheless, it will preserve the benefits, the advantages of the single market and the customs union... and will therefore be required to respect all the European rules just like all member states do.&quot;

&nbsp;&#39;Certainty&#39; for the future

Standing against a backdrop of British and EU flags, Davis told the news conference that the 21-month transition &quot;gives the certainty demanded by businesses and citizens across Britain and the European Union.&quot;

Firms across Europe that need to plan their business years in the future have been clamouring for both sides to reach a deal to avoid a cliff-edge departure, and Davis said it was &quot;near enough&quot; the full two years Britain had demanded.

Davis said Britain would be able to sign trade deals with other countries during the transition, despite EU rules saying it should not be while subject to the bloc&#39;s customs rules.

He added that Britain would now allow EU citizens moving to Britain during the transition phase to have the same rights to work and live in the country as those who arrived before, a policy London previously rejected.

May, who reached an outline deal on the divorce with the EU in December, said in a statement that the deal showed that &quot;we can get an arrangement for the future which will be in the interests&quot; of both sides.

Both sides wanted the transition deal in place so that it could be signed off by EU leaders at a Brussels summit on Friday, allowing the unlocking of talks on the future British-EU relationship in April.

&#39;Backstop&#39; solution&nbsp;

Britain meanwhile agreed to the EU&#39;s &quot;backstop&quot; plan for the status of the Irish border, under which British-ruled Northern Ireland would remain part of the EU&#39;s customs union if there is no better idea.

The thorny issue will, however, require further talks to be fully resolved, the two sides said.&nbsp;

The EU insists that any divorce deal must ensure there is no &quot;hard border&quot; between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it could compromise the 1998 peace accord that ended decades of sectarian violence in the British province.

The move appeared to be a climbdown for May, who insisted in February that &quot;no UK prime minister could ever agree&quot; to the plan as it would threaten Britain&#39;s constitutional integrity.

The pro-British party in Northern Ireland that props up her government has previously deemed the backstop arrangement &quot;unacceptable&quot;.

Davis however denied that Britain had backed down, saying it was still pushing for a solution as part of a trade deal which would mean there was no need for the backstop.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who met Barnier in Brussels, said on Twitter on Monday that &quot;Brexit negotiations are moving forward.&quot;

Sterling climbed to $1.41 against the dollar and reached 87 pence against the euro on news of the deal.

London and Brussels had already drawn closer in recent days over the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy, with EU foreign ministers on Monday offering &quot;unqualified solidarity&quot; over the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal.&nbsp;

Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will see London follow the bloc's rules for nearly two years after the Brexit divorce

Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will see London follow the bloc's rules for nearly two years after the Brexit divorce. Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart David Davis said the agreement, which European leaders will sign at a summit this week, was a "decisive step". The two sides also agreed on a "backstop" solution for the thorny issue of the future of the Irish border, just weeks after Prime Minister Theresa May said no British premier could ever accept such an idea. The deal, secured after what Frenchman Barnier called an "intensive" weekend of talks in Brussels, paves the way for talks on a future trade deal to start next month and sent the pound surging. "We were able this morning to agree, after all those days and nights of hard work, on a large part of what will be an international agreement for the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom," Barnier told a press conference with Davis. The transition will begin on Brexit day -- March 29, 2019 -- and last until December 31, 2020. During that period, Britain "will no longer participate in the European Union decision-making process," Barnier said. "Nevertheless, it will preserve the benefits, the advantages of the single market and the customs union... and will therefore be required to respect all the European rules just like all member states do." 'Certainty' for the future Standing against a backdrop of British and EU flags, Davis told the news conference that the 21-month transition "gives the certainty demanded by businesses and citizens across Britain and the European Union." Firms across Europe that need to plan their business years in the future have been clamouring for both sides to reach a deal to avoid a cliff-edge departure, and Davis said it was "near enough" the full two years Britain had demanded. Davis said Britain would be able to sign trade deals with other countries during the transition, despite EU rules saying it should not be while subject to the bloc's customs rules. He added that Britain would now allow EU citizens moving to Britain during the transition phase to have the same rights to work and live in the country as those who arrived before, a policy London previously rejected. May, who reached an outline deal on the divorce with the EU in December, said in a statement that the deal showed that "we can get an arrangement for the future which will be in the interests" of both sides. Both sides wanted the transition deal in place so that it could be signed off by EU leaders at a Brussels summit on Friday, allowing the unlocking of talks on the future British-EU relationship in April. 'Backstop' solution Britain meanwhile agreed to the EU's "backstop" plan for the status of the Irish border, under which British-ruled Northern Ireland would remain part of the EU's customs union if there is no better idea. The thorny issue will, however, require further talks to be fully resolved, the two sides said. The EU insists that any divorce deal must ensure there is no "hard border" between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it could compromise the 1998 peace accord that ended decades of sectarian violence in the British province. The move appeared to be a climbdown for May, who insisted in February that "no UK prime minister could ever agree" to the plan as it would threaten Britain's constitutional integrity. The pro-British party in Northern Ireland that props up her government has previously deemed the backstop arrangement "unacceptable". Davis however denied that Britain had backed down, saying it was still pushing for a solution as part of a trade deal which would mean there was no need for the backstop. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who met Barnier in Brussels, said on Twitter on Monday that "Brexit negotiations are moving forward." Sterling climbed to $1.41 against the dollar and reached 87 pence against the euro on news of the deal. London and Brussels had already drawn closer in recent days over the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy, with EU foreign ministers on Monday offering "unqualified solidarity" over the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal.

Britain, EU agree Brexit transition deal

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he wanted France to supplant Britain as New Delhi&#39;s partner of choice in Europe, as he embarked on a four-day tour of India.

Macron, a pro-business centrist who swept to power last year, has been beating the drum for France as a new, modernised &quot;startup nation&quot; on the world stage, while he pushes ahead with a wide-ranging programme of reforms at home.

He has also used Britain&#39;s decision to leave the European Union to pitch France as an investment destination at the heart of the European single market.

&quot;Your historical partner in Europe was the UK, and I want France to become the new partner,&quot; Macron told&nbsp;media&nbsp;in an interview adding&nbsp;&quot;I want France to become the reference partner of the 21st century.&quot;

The 40-year-old president, who is travelling with a delegation of French companies that includes EDF,&nbsp; Dassault Aviation, Schneider Electric&nbsp;and Suez , will also inaugurate a solar plant built by Engie&nbsp;in Uttar Pradesh.

&quot;I think India has to operate much more with Europe and the European Union as a whole. I want France to be its entry point,&quot; Macron said.

&quot;I want your creativity, your entrepreneurship, your young people to be much more present in France. Much more known and recognised. And I want to see the same from the French side.&quot;

India was the third-largest source of foreign direct investment into Britain in 2015, contributing to its position as Europe&#39;s top destination for foreign direct investment, according to official British figures. By comparison, India was only the 30th largest investor in France, according to 2013 Bank of France figures.

Among recent wins for France is India&#39;s purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault in 2016. It beat out the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by a European consortium that includes Britain&#39;s BAE Systems.

But talks to sell six new-generation EPR nuclear reactors built by state utility EDF and Areva have dragged on.

Macron, a pro-business centrist who swept to power last year, has been beating the drum for France as a new, modernised 'startup nation' on the world stage

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he wanted France to supplant Britain as New Delhi's partner of choice in Europe, as he embarked on a four-day tour of India. Macron, a pro-business centrist who swept to power last year, has been beating the drum for France as a new, modernised "startup nation" on the world stage, while he pushes ahead with a wide-ranging programme of reforms at home. He has also used Britain's decision to leave the European Union to pitch France as an investment destination at the heart of the European single market. "Your historical partner in Europe was the UK, and I want France to become the new partner," Macron told media in an interview adding "I want France to become the reference partner of the 21st century." The 40-year-old president, who is travelling with a delegation of French companies that includes EDF, Dassault Aviation, Schneider Electric and Suez , will also inaugurate a solar plant built by Engie in Uttar Pradesh. "I think India has to operate much more with Europe and the European Union as a whole. I want France to be its entry point," Macron said. "I want your creativity, your entrepreneurship, your young people to be much more present in France. Much more known and recognised. And I want to see the same from the French side." India was the third-largest source of foreign direct investment into Britain in 2015, contributing to its position as Europe's top destination for foreign direct investment, according to official British figures. By comparison, India was only the 30th largest investor in France, according to 2013 Bank of France figures. Among recent wins for France is India's purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault in 2016. It beat out the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by a European consortium that includes Britain's BAE Systems. But talks to sell six new-generation EPR nuclear reactors built by state utility EDF and Areva have dragged on.

Macron seeks to replace Britain as India's gateway to Europe

Scotland&rsquo;s devolved government will shortly introduce its own, alternative Brexit bill, increasing pressure on the UK government over legislation needed to pass in Britain&rsquo;s national parliament.

The &ldquo;continuity bill&rdquo;, to be announced on Tuesday afternoon in the Scottish parliament by Brexit minister Mike Russell.&nbsp;

It will be introduced at Holyrood as a stop-gap solution if MSPs do not give consent to the UK bill and will aim to ensure stability of devolved law once Britain leaves the EU.&nbsp;

Russel said that there is still a possibility of a good deal to be agreed with Westminster, but has rejected the current offer from UK ministers.

Prime Minister Theresa May&rsquo;s government on Monday indicated that it would go no further in offering concessions to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who are concerned that they will lose powers in a constitutional realignment after Britain leaves the European Union.

The United Kingdom&rsquo;s devolved nations do not have a veto on Brexit legislation, but ignoring their wishes risks worsening already strained relations, stoking nationalism in Scotland, and further complicating the already-difficult withdrawal process.

&ldquo;I will not sign up to something that effectively undermines the whole foundation on which devolution is built,&rdquo; Nicola Sturgeon, whose party supports independence for Scotland, told BBC radio. As things stand, her government could not recommend consent for the bill, she said.

Cabinet minister David Lidington said on Monday that most currently devolved powers would now automatically stay in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, the devolved nations&rsquo; capitals, after Britain leaves the European Union.

But the British government would make exceptions if it believed that would damage the UK as a whole, he said, comments that raised hackles in Scotland and appeared to overturn progress made between the sides last week.

The British government needs a deal before the summer in order to pass the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill in Britain&rsquo;s national parliament. The bill will formally sever the UK&rsquo;s ties to the EU and &ldquo;copy and paste&rdquo; EU legislation into British law.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The “continuity bill”, to be announced on Tuesday afternoon in the Scottish parliament by Brexit minister Mike Russell

Scotland’s devolved government will shortly introduce its own, alternative Brexit bill, increasing pressure on the UK government over legislation needed to pass in Britain’s national parliament. The “continuity bill”, to be announced on Tuesday afternoon in the Scottish parliament by Brexit minister Mike Russell. It will be introduced at Holyrood as a stop-gap solution if MSPs do not give consent to the UK bill and will aim to ensure stability of devolved law once Britain leaves the EU. Russel said that there is still a possibility of a good deal to be agreed with Westminster, but has rejected the current offer from UK ministers. Prime Minister Theresa May’s government on Monday indicated that it would go no further in offering concessions to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who are concerned that they will lose powers in a constitutional realignment after Britain leaves the European Union. The United Kingdom’s devolved nations do not have a veto on Brexit legislation, but ignoring their wishes risks worsening already strained relations, stoking nationalism in Scotland, and further complicating the already-difficult withdrawal process. “I will not sign up to something that effectively undermines the whole foundation on which devolution is built,” Nicola Sturgeon, whose party supports independence for Scotland, told BBC radio. As things stand, her government could not recommend consent for the bill, she said. Cabinet minister David Lidington said on Monday that most currently devolved powers would now automatically stay in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, the devolved nations’ capitals, after Britain leaves the European Union. But the British government would make exceptions if it believed that would damage the UK as a whole, he said, comments that raised hackles in Scotland and appeared to overturn progress made between the sides last week. The British government needs a deal before the summer in order to pass the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill in Britain’s national parliament. The bill will formally sever the UK’s ties to the EU and “copy and paste” EU legislation into British law. (With inputs from Reuters)

Scotland to introduce 'continuity bill' as alternative Brexit bill

European Union leaders staked out opposing positions on the size and aims of the bloc`s budget on Friday ahead of tough negotiations to deal with a hole in Brussels` finances created by Britain`s planned departure next year.

In the summit debate, all EU states except Britain are expected to say whether they agree to increase the 2021-2027 budget to pay for new common policies on security, defence, and migration, at a time when Brexit will slash revenues to the common pot by 10-12 billion euros ($12-15 billion) a year.

&quot;I think we want to have new priorities, new policies, future-oriented policies, and if we cannot reduce to the right extent old policies then countries have to pay more,&quot; European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on arrival.

The executive Commission wants the budget to increase to 1.1-1.2 per cent of EU gross national income from 1.0 per cent now. It has proposed covering the gap left by Brexit with a mix of spending cuts and new sources of revenue.

But the 27 countries that will remain in the EU when Britain leaves are deeply divided over the proposal and officials do not expect any agreement on Friday.

The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Sweden - all of them net contributors to the budget - are most adamant in rejecting any increase in financing. All were allies of Britain in pushing through a cut in EU funding the last time the seven-year budget was set.

&quot;I think we are already paying quite a bit,&quot; Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters before the summit. &quot;So no increase, modernise. Britain is leaving so that part needs to be removed from the budget.&quot;

Finland and Belgium sympathise with that view.&nbsp;

Conditionality

But the Commission`s call for more money is likely to get a sympathetic ear in Germany, already the biggest net contributor to the EU budget and prepared to pay even more. Italy and France, the next biggest net contributors, are also ready to increase payments, albeit with certain conditions.

The three biggest EU countries also want to link EU payments to poorer eastern European countries to their respecting the rule of law and European &quot;solidarity&quot; - diplomatic jargon for sharing the burden of accepting migrants.

&nbsp;Poland, Hungary and others have resisted pressure to take in refugees from the Middle East or Africa, angering Germany, Italy and Sweden who have to deal with the bulk of the inflows alone.

The richer EU countries are also worried that nationalist-minded governments in Poland, Hungary and Romania do not respect the rule of law and EU values, undermining the independence of the judiciary and fundamental rights.

The Commission has opened a formal procedure against Poland to examine whether it is complying with its own constitution.

&quot;It is quite obvious that we need some conditionality,&quot; Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters when asked if EU money from the next budget should be linked to observing the rule of law and accepting migrants.

&quot;If you are a member of the European Union you are a full member, which comes with rights and obligations.&quot;

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose country is the biggest beneficiary of EU funds, said: &quot;We want (policies) that have so far worked well for Poland... to be continued.&quot; 
&nbsp;

European Union leaders staked out opposing positions on the size and aims of the bloc`s budget on Friday ahead of tough negotiations to deal with a hole in Brussels` finances created by Britain`s planned departure next year

European Union leaders staked out opposing positions on the size and aims of the bloc`s budget on Friday ahead of tough negotiations to deal with a hole in Brussels` finances created by Britain`s planned departure next year. In the summit debate, all EU states except Britain are expected to say whether they agree to increase the 2021-2027 budget to pay for new common policies on security, defence, and migration, at a time when Brexit will slash revenues to the common pot by 10-12 billion euros ($12-15 billion) a year. "I think we want to have new priorities, new policies, future-oriented policies, and if we cannot reduce to the right extent old policies then countries have to pay more," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on arrival. The executive Commission wants the budget to increase to 1.1-1.2 per cent of EU gross national income from 1.0 per cent now. It has proposed covering the gap left by Brexit with a mix of spending cuts and new sources of revenue. But the 27 countries that will remain in the EU when Britain leaves are deeply divided over the proposal and officials do not expect any agreement on Friday. The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, and Sweden - all of them net contributors to the budget - are most adamant in rejecting any increase in financing. All were allies of Britain in pushing through a cut in EU funding the last time the seven-year budget was set. "I think we are already paying quite a bit," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters before the summit. "So no increase, modernise. Britain is leaving so that part needs to be removed from the budget." Finland and Belgium sympathise with that view. Conditionality But the Commission`s call for more money is likely to get a sympathetic ear in Germany, already the biggest net contributor to the EU budget and prepared to pay even more. Italy and France, the next biggest net contributors, are also ready to increase payments, albeit with certain conditions. The three biggest EU countries also want to link EU payments to poorer eastern European countries to their respecting the rule of law and European "solidarity" - diplomatic jargon for sharing the burden of accepting migrants. Poland, Hungary and others have resisted pressure to take in refugees from the Middle East or Africa, angering Germany, Italy and Sweden who have to deal with the bulk of the inflows alone. The richer EU countries are also worried that nationalist-minded governments in Poland, Hungary and Romania do not respect the rule of law and EU values, undermining the independence of the judiciary and fundamental rights. The Commission has opened a formal procedure against Poland to examine whether it is complying with its own constitution. "It is quite obvious that we need some conditionality," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters when asked if EU money from the next budget should be linked to observing the rule of law and accepting migrants. "If you are a member of the European Union you are a full member, which comes with rights and obligations." Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose country is the biggest beneficiary of EU funds, said: "We want (policies) that have so far worked well for Poland... to be continued."

EU leaders prepare for battle over post-Brexit budget

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