We need to defend Europe against China, Russia, US: French president Macron

British Prime Minister Theresa May promised her ministers Tuesday she would not strike a Brexit deal with the EU "at any cost" after opposition over a mooted plan to resolve the deadlock over Northern Ireland.

Negotiations have stepped up with Brussels as London seeks a divorce agreement within weeks, to allow time for it to be passed by parliament before Brexit day on March 29, 2019.

But British eurosceptics fear May is planning to break the impasse by giving too much ground on an arrangement to avoid border checks between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

The Northern Irish party on whom May depends for her majority in the House of Commons warned that unless the EU offered further concessions, Britain could leave with no deal at all.

At a weekly cabinet meeting, May told ministers she expected an agreement and wanted it as soon as possible, but it would "not be done at any cost", according to her spokesman.

"We will need to be satisfied in the negotiations that we have achieved the best deal that we possibly can for the UK," he added.

Talks with the EU are stuck on the details of a "backstop" arrangement to avoid checks on goods crossing the Irish border until a new trade deal can be signed.

London suggests Britain could temporarily stay aligned with &nbsp;the bloc's trade rules but wants to reserve the right to exit the arrangement.

There were signs of a possible compromise in a phone call on Monday between May and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, where he said he would consider a "review mechanism" for the backstop.

But he rejected the idea Britain could unilaterally end the arrangement, something Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and other eurosceptics in her Conservative party want.

Jeffrey Donaldson, an MP from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May's government, said Dublin's refusal to budge could scupper a deal.

"Looks like we're heading for no deal," he wrote on Twitter, adding: "Can't understand why Irish government seems so intent on this course."

The Sun newspaper reported Tuesday that Raab and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt would use the cabinet meeting to warn that any deal with the EU that traps Britain within the bloc's orbit would never be approved by MPs.

May's spokesman said ministers agreed on the need for an "effective mechanism" within the backstop to ensure "that the UK cannot be held in the arrangement indefinitely".

Work is continuing on this, he said, adding: "Don't be under any illusions that there remains a significant amount of work to do."

Several government sources have indicated they would like to see a deal before the end of November, although one official admitted Tuesday this was now a "stretch".

British Prime Minister Theresa May promised her ministers Tuesday she would not strike a Brexit deal with the EU "at any cost" after opposition over a mooted plan to resolve the deadlock over Northern Ireland.

British Prime Minister Theresa May promised her ministers Tuesday she would not strike a Brexit deal with the EU "at any cost" after opposition over a mooted plan to resolve the deadlock over Northern Ireland. Negotiations have stepped up with Brussels as London seeks a divorce agreement within weeks, to allow time for it to be passed by parliament before Brexit day on March 29, 2019. But British eurosceptics fear May is planning to break the impasse by giving too much ground on an arrangement to avoid border checks between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. The Northern Irish party on whom May depends for her majority in the House of Commons warned that unless the EU offered further concessions, Britain could leave with no deal at all. At a weekly cabinet meeting, May told ministers she expected an agreement and wanted it as soon as possible, but it would "not be done at any cost", according to her spokesman. "We will need to be satisfied in the negotiations that we have achieved the best deal that we possibly can for the UK," he added. Talks with the EU are stuck on the details of a "backstop" arrangement to avoid checks on goods crossing the Irish border until a new trade deal can be signed. London suggests Britain could temporarily stay aligned with the bloc's trade rules but wants to reserve the right to exit the arrangement. There were signs of a possible compromise in a phone call on Monday between May and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, where he said he would consider a "review mechanism" for the backstop. But he rejected the idea Britain could unilaterally end the arrangement, something Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and other eurosceptics in her Conservative party want. Jeffrey Donaldson, an MP from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May's government, said Dublin's refusal to budge could scupper a deal. "Looks like we're heading for no deal," he wrote on Twitter, adding: "Can't understand why Irish government seems so intent on this course." The Sun newspaper reported Tuesday that Raab and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt would use the cabinet meeting to warn that any deal with the EU that traps Britain within the bloc's orbit would never be approved by MPs. May's spokesman said ministers agreed on the need for an "effective mechanism" within the backstop to ensure "that the UK cannot be held in the arrangement indefinitely". Work is continuing on this, he said, adding: "Don't be under any illusions that there remains a significant amount of work to do." Several government sources have indicated they would like to see a deal before the end of November, although one official admitted Tuesday this was now a "stretch".

United Kingdom's Theresa May says will not agree Brexit deal 'at any cost'

French President Emmanuel Macron called Tuesday for a "real European army" as the continent marks a century since the divisions of World War I, to better defend itself against Russia and even the United States.

Macron, who has pushed for a joint European Union military force since his arrival in power, said Europe needed to reduce its dependence on American might, not least after US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of a Cold War-era nuclear treaty.

"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," Macron told Europe 1 in his first radio interview since becoming president in May 2017.

"When I see President Trump announcing that he's quitting a major disarmament treaty which was formed after the 1980s Euromissile crisis that hit Europe, who is the main victim? Europe and its security," he said.&nbsp;

The Euromissile crisis -- a mini-arms race within the Cold War that saw the US roll ballistic missiles into Europe -- was a major factor spurring the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

"We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army," Macron said in the interview, recorded Monday night in Verdun, northeast France, as he tours the former Western Front during week-long World War I centenary commemorations.

Faced with "a Russia which is at our borders and has shown that it can be a threat", Macron argued: "We need a Europe which defends itself better alone, without just depending on the United States."

Macron has spearheaded the creation of a nine-country European force that would be capable of rapidly mounting a joint military operation, an evacuation from a war zone, or providing aid after a natural disaster.

The nine countries' defence ministers will meet in Paris for the first time on Wednesday, to start thrashing out details of how the force will operate.

The wider EU is also set to vastly expand its defence budget from 2021, allocating some 13 billion euros ($15 billion) over seven years to research and develop new equipment -- up from less than 600 million euros in the current budget.

Bruno Alomar, a professor at the French War School which trains top military officers, said however that Macron's vision of tight-knit European defence force was a long way off.

"The idea of creating a common strategic culture is not a bad one," he told AFP.&nbsp;

"But there's a massive gap between the European defence that Emmanuel Macron dreams about and the reality of very powerful disagreements between European partners."

Russian meddling fears

In an apparent reference to Russia, Macron warned that "intrusion attempts in cyber-space and multiple interventions in our democracies" required a united response.

"Peace in Europe is precarious," Macron told Europe 1.

As he prepares to host dozens of world leaders Sunday to mark 100 years since the World War I armistice, including Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the centrist French leader has been railing against rising nationalism in Europe and beyond.&nbsp;

He repeated his warning Tuesday of similarities between the state of the world today and the financial crisis and "nationalism playing on people's fears" of the 1930s.

Ahead of European Parliament elections next May -- billed by many observers as a battle between Macron-style pro-Europeans and rightwing populists -- Macron said politicians must respond to voters' fear and anger.

Europe "has probably become too ultra-liberal", he said, "which doesn't allow the middle classes to live well".

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen -- one of the targets of Macron's anti-nationalist tirades -- meanwhile accused him of seeking to turn Europe into an empire.

"And it was empires that were at the origin of World War I, not nations," she told Radio Classique.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Tuesday for a "real European army" as the continent marks a century since the divisions of World War I, to better defend itself against Russia and even the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Tuesday for a "real European army" as the continent marks a century since the divisions of World War I, to better defend itself against Russia and even the United States. Macron, who has pushed for a joint European Union military force since his arrival in power, said Europe needed to reduce its dependence on American might, not least after US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of a Cold War-era nuclear treaty. "We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America," Macron told Europe 1 in his first radio interview since becoming president in May 2017. "When I see President Trump announcing that he's quitting a major disarmament treaty which was formed after the 1980s Euromissile crisis that hit Europe, who is the main victim? Europe and its security," he said. The Euromissile crisis -- a mini-arms race within the Cold War that saw the US roll ballistic missiles into Europe -- was a major factor spurring the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. "We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army," Macron said in the interview, recorded Monday night in Verdun, northeast France, as he tours the former Western Front during week-long World War I centenary commemorations. Faced with "a Russia which is at our borders and has shown that it can be a threat", Macron argued: "We need a Europe which defends itself better alone, without just depending on the United States." Macron has spearheaded the creation of a nine-country European force that would be capable of rapidly mounting a joint military operation, an evacuation from a war zone, or providing aid after a natural disaster. The nine countries' defence ministers will meet in Paris for the first time on Wednesday, to start thrashing out details of how the force will operate. The wider EU is also set to vastly expand its defence budget from 2021, allocating some 13 billion euros ($15 billion) over seven years to research and develop new equipment -- up from less than 600 million euros in the current budget. Bruno Alomar, a professor at the French War School which trains top military officers, said however that Macron's vision of tight-knit European defence force was a long way off. "The idea of creating a common strategic culture is not a bad one," he told AFP. "But there's a massive gap between the European defence that Emmanuel Macron dreams about and the reality of very powerful disagreements between European partners." Russian meddling fears In an apparent reference to Russia, Macron warned that "intrusion attempts in cyber-space and multiple interventions in our democracies" required a united response. "Peace in Europe is precarious," Macron told Europe 1. As he prepares to host dozens of world leaders Sunday to mark 100 years since the World War I armistice, including Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the centrist French leader has been railing against rising nationalism in Europe and beyond. He repeated his warning Tuesday of similarities between the state of the world today and the financial crisis and "nationalism playing on people's fears" of the 1930s. Ahead of European Parliament elections next May -- billed by many observers as a battle between Macron-style pro-Europeans and rightwing populists -- Macron said politicians must respond to voters' fear and anger. Europe "has probably become too ultra-liberal", he said, "which doesn't allow the middle classes to live well". French far-right leader Marine Le Pen -- one of the targets of Macron's anti-nationalist tirades -- meanwhile accused him of seeking to turn Europe into an empire. "And it was empires that were at the origin of World War I, not nations," she told Radio Classique.

Emmanuel Macron urges European army to defend against Russia, US

The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president`s replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist.

The European Union is worried the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister, could derail halting progress made towards national reconciliation following a war with ethnic minority Tamil separatists that killed tens of thousands, many during the final stages under his watch as president.&nbsp;

"The government got GSP on the basis of certain commitments, if these commitments are not met, then we would consider withdrawal," EU ambassador to Sri Lanka, Tung-Lai Margue, told Reuters on Thursday.

Margue was referring to Generalised System of Preferences Plus status, under which Sri Lanka’s top exports of garments and fish get lucrative concessions in the world`s largest single market.

Margue was among a group of diplomats who met President Maithripala Sirisena this week for a briefing on the crisis sparked by his sacking of the prime minister.

The EU provides the trade concessions to developing countries, while it also monitors certain conditions including human rights.

Sri Lanka promised the EU in 2016 it would work toward reconciliation with Tamils, who mostly live in the north and east of the predominantly Buddhist nation, through greater political and economic autonomy.

Sri Lanka also pledged to provide justice and reparations to victims of human rights violations committed during the 26-year civil war, many of which were blamed on Rajapaksa and his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was his defence secretary.&nbsp;

Both say the military only targeted insurgents, not civilians.

The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president`s replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist.

The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president`s replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist. The European Union is worried the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister, could derail halting progress made towards national reconciliation following a war with ethnic minority Tamil separatists that killed tens of thousands, many during the final stages under his watch as president. "The government got GSP on the basis of certain commitments, if these commitments are not met, then we would consider withdrawal," EU ambassador to Sri Lanka, Tung-Lai Margue, told Reuters on Thursday. Margue was referring to Generalised System of Preferences Plus status, under which Sri Lanka’s top exports of garments and fish get lucrative concessions in the world`s largest single market. Margue was among a group of diplomats who met President Maithripala Sirisena this week for a briefing on the crisis sparked by his sacking of the prime minister. The EU provides the trade concessions to developing countries, while it also monitors certain conditions including human rights. Sri Lanka promised the EU in 2016 it would work toward reconciliation with Tamils, who mostly live in the north and east of the predominantly Buddhist nation, through greater political and economic autonomy. Sri Lanka also pledged to provide justice and reparations to victims of human rights violations committed during the 26-year civil war, many of which were blamed on Rajapaksa and his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was his defence secretary. Both say the military only targeted insurgents, not civilians.

Sri Lanka risks EU trade concessions over political slide back: Envoy

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier denied Thursday a report claiming that London and Brussels had reached a preliminary agreement covering financial services and data.

The Times newspaper said a deal had been struck that would see UK financial services companies retain access to European Union markets after Britain leaves the bloc in March.

Such a deal would guarantee British companies access to EU markets as long as domestic regulations remained broadly aligned with those set by Brussels -- an arrangement called "equivalence".

Barnier called the report "misleading", while British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman played it down as "speculation".

"Misleading press articles today on Brexit &amp; financial services," Barnier wrote on Twitter.

"Reminder: EU may grant and withdraw equivalence in some financial services autonomously. As with other 3rd countries, EU ready to have close regulatory dialogue with UK in full respect for autonomy of both parties."

British government officials were more positive.

May's spokesman called The Times report "speculation", but added: "While we continue to make good progress, agreeing new arrangements for financial services negotiations are ongoing."

The pound started to rally following the report's publication.

It extended those gains on a signal from the central bank that it stood ready to raise rates in response to early signs of the economy overheating.

The pound stood at a weekly high of about $1.2921 around 1230 GMT. The day's rise of 1.2 per cent was the highest since February, according to Bloomberg data.

British optimism

Financial services are a major part of Britain's economy and access to European markets has been a key concern in the Brexit negotiations.

Currently, the EU would be able to withdraw market access with a month's notice if it decides that a partner country no longer has equivalent financial services regulations.

The report in The Times suggested that neither London nor Brussels would be able to declare unilaterally that regulations had fallen out of equivalence and block access to their markets without first going through independent arbitration and a notice period "significantly longer" than one month.

Britain's Brexit minister Dominic Raab believes a divorce deal with the Brussels could be struck by November 21, it emerged Wednesday, prompting EU leaders to warn this would require a breakthrough within days.

In a letter to a parliamentary scrutiny panel, he wrote: "I would be happy to give evidence to the committee when a deal is finalised, and currently expect 21 November to be suitable."

But Raab's ministry later admitted there was "no set date for the negotiations to conclude".

Most of the divorce deal with Brussels is agreed but talks remain stuck on how to avoid new checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland after it leaves the bloc's single market and customs union.

Analysts said reaching a preliminary services agreement with the EU could ease May's job of convincing lawmakers to approve any Ireland border deal.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier denied Thursday a report claiming that London and Brussels had reached a preliminary agreement covering financial services and data.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier denied Thursday a report claiming that London and Brussels had reached a preliminary agreement covering financial services and data. The Times newspaper said a deal had been struck that would see UK financial services companies retain access to European Union markets after Britain leaves the bloc in March. Such a deal would guarantee British companies access to EU markets as long as domestic regulations remained broadly aligned with those set by Brussels -- an arrangement called "equivalence". Barnier called the report "misleading", while British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman played it down as "speculation". "Misleading press articles today on Brexit & financial services," Barnier wrote on Twitter. "Reminder: EU may grant and withdraw equivalence in some financial services autonomously. As with other 3rd countries, EU ready to have close regulatory dialogue with UK in full respect for autonomy of both parties." British government officials were more positive. May's spokesman called The Times report "speculation", but added: "While we continue to make good progress, agreeing new arrangements for financial services negotiations are ongoing." The pound started to rally following the report's publication. It extended those gains on a signal from the central bank that it stood ready to raise rates in response to early signs of the economy overheating. The pound stood at a weekly high of about $1.2921 around 1230 GMT. The day's rise of 1.2 per cent was the highest since February, according to Bloomberg data. British optimism Financial services are a major part of Britain's economy and access to European markets has been a key concern in the Brexit negotiations. Currently, the EU would be able to withdraw market access with a month's notice if it decides that a partner country no longer has equivalent financial services regulations. The report in The Times suggested that neither London nor Brussels would be able to declare unilaterally that regulations had fallen out of equivalence and block access to their markets without first going through independent arbitration and a notice period "significantly longer" than one month. Britain's Brexit minister Dominic Raab believes a divorce deal with the Brussels could be struck by November 21, it emerged Wednesday, prompting EU leaders to warn this would require a breakthrough within days. In a letter to a parliamentary scrutiny panel, he wrote: "I would be happy to give evidence to the committee when a deal is finalised, and currently expect 21 November to be suitable." But Raab's ministry later admitted there was "no set date for the negotiations to conclude". Most of the divorce deal with Brussels is agreed but talks remain stuck on how to avoid new checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland after it leaves the bloc's single market and customs union. Analysts said reaching a preliminary services agreement with the EU could ease May's job of convincing lawmakers to approve any Ireland border deal.

Barnier denies Brexit deal reached on financial services

Expressing concern over the large public debt in Italy, the European Commission has asked the government of Italy to address worries about its big-spending 2019 budget by November 13.

The European Commission also called the debt as a source&nbsp;of concern for the entire Eurozone,&nbsp;

Italy is locked in a tussle with the EU executive, which earlier this month rejected the government's expansionary budget and asked Rome to submit a new one within three weeks.

The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met with his economy minister on Tuesday to discuss the Italian budget.

Italian banks have lost nearly 40 billion euros ($45 billion) of market capitalisation since May, with small and mid-sized lenders worst-hit by a sell-off on concerns that Rome's budget crisis will lead to a capital crunch in the third-largest euro zone economy.

Faced with the government's unwillingness to accommodate European Union demands for fiscal discipline, investors have been dumping Italian government bonds, which account for about 10 per cent of Italian banks' total assets. That has forced lenders into costly write-downs, lifted funding costs and darkened their profit outlook.

The hefty loss in market capitalisation comes as the eurozone banking watchdog releases results of its latest stress test of European lenders, with Italian banks under the greatest scrutiny.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Expressing concern over the large public debt in Italy, the European Commission has asked the government of Italy to address worries about its big-spending 2019 budget by November 13.

Expressing concern over the large public debt in Italy, the European Commission has asked the government of Italy to address worries about its big-spending 2019 budget by November 13. The European Commission also called the debt as a source of concern for the entire Eurozone, Italy is locked in a tussle with the EU executive, which earlier this month rejected the government's expansionary budget and asked Rome to submit a new one within three weeks. The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met with his economy minister on Tuesday to discuss the Italian budget. Italian banks have lost nearly 40 billion euros ($45 billion) of market capitalisation since May, with small and mid-sized lenders worst-hit by a sell-off on concerns that Rome's budget crisis will lead to a capital crunch in the third-largest euro zone economy. Faced with the government's unwillingness to accommodate European Union demands for fiscal discipline, investors have been dumping Italian government bonds, which account for about 10 per cent of Italian banks' total assets. That has forced lenders into costly write-downs, lifted funding costs and darkened their profit outlook. The hefty loss in market capitalisation comes as the eurozone banking watchdog releases results of its latest stress test of European lenders, with Italian banks under the greatest scrutiny. (With inputs from Reuters)

Debt a worry for whole Eurozone: EU Commission tells Rome 

Britain's finance minister pledged Sunday that "fiscal buffers" would be in place to deal with the potential chaos of the country crashing out of the European Union without a deal in March.

Philip Hammond was speaking ahead of his speech in parliament Monday in which he is to lay out Britain's last budget before Europe's second-largest economy breaks up with the other 27 nations in the bloc.

The chancellor of the exchequer voiced optimism that the two sides could still reach an agreement despite the current impasse in negotiations.

But he told the BBC that he "can't give an absolute guarantee because there have to be two parties -- it takes two to tango".

And he stressed that he was keeping financial firepower in reserve in case Britain crashes out without a deal and a period of financial mayhem ensues.

"What I will continue to do is maintain fiscal buffers, a reserve of borrowing power against my fiscal rules so that if the economy as a result of a no-deal Brexit -- or indeed because of something else we haven't anticipated -- needs support for the coming months and years, I have the capacity to provide that support," he said.

"That depends on what the markets are doing, it depends at the circumstances at the moment."

Officials in Brussels say they are prepared to hold another summit as soon as they see substantial progress on the outstanding issue of the Irish border.

A new UK-EU frontier will emerge between Ireland and Britain's Northern Ireland on March 29.

But the sides still cannot agree how to maintain frictionless trade that accounts for the different customs and regulatory rules that exist between Britain and the EU.

Hammond said that getting a deal "will minimise any negative effects" of the divorce but refused to be drawn on how much damage Brexit as a whole was causing.

And he admitted that Britain would need to come up with a brand new budget in a no-deal scenario.

"If we were to find ourselves in that situation, then we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britain's economy," he told Sky News.

"We would need to look at a different strategy and frankly we'd need to have a new budget that set out a different strategy for the future."

Britain's finance minister pledged Sunday that "fiscal buffers" would be in place to deal with the potential chaos of the country crashing out of the European Union without a deal in March.

Britain's finance minister pledged Sunday that "fiscal buffers" would be in place to deal with the potential chaos of the country crashing out of the European Union without a deal in March. Philip Hammond was speaking ahead of his speech in parliament Monday in which he is to lay out Britain's last budget before Europe's second-largest economy breaks up with the other 27 nations in the bloc. The chancellor of the exchequer voiced optimism that the two sides could still reach an agreement despite the current impasse in negotiations. But he told the BBC that he "can't give an absolute guarantee because there have to be two parties -- it takes two to tango". And he stressed that he was keeping financial firepower in reserve in case Britain crashes out without a deal and a period of financial mayhem ensues. "What I will continue to do is maintain fiscal buffers, a reserve of borrowing power against my fiscal rules so that if the economy as a result of a no-deal Brexit -- or indeed because of something else we haven't anticipated -- needs support for the coming months and years, I have the capacity to provide that support," he said. "That depends on what the markets are doing, it depends at the circumstances at the moment." Officials in Brussels say they are prepared to hold another summit as soon as they see substantial progress on the outstanding issue of the Irish border. A new UK-EU frontier will emerge between Ireland and Britain's Northern Ireland on March 29. But the sides still cannot agree how to maintain frictionless trade that accounts for the different customs and regulatory rules that exist between Britain and the EU. Hammond said that getting a deal "will minimise any negative effects" of the divorce but refused to be drawn on how much damage Brexit as a whole was causing. And he admitted that Britain would need to come up with a brand new budget in a no-deal scenario. "If we were to find ourselves in that situation, then we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britain's economy," he told Sky News. "We would need to look at a different strategy and frankly we'd need to have a new budget that set out a different strategy for the future."

UK preparing 'buffers' for no-deal Brexit: Finance minister

The European Union slammed "undue" restrictions on freedom of expression during Pakistan's election season this summer in a report released Friday, saying the crackdown led to considerable self-censorship of the media.

The pivotal election has been branded "Pakistan's dirtiest", after widespread claims in the months leading up to the vote that the powerful military was trying to fix the playing field in Khan's favour.

The army and Khan, a former cricketer who captained Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992, have denied the claims.

"Comprehensive analysis of the media's output, however, reveals that editorial policies were carefully calibrated to downplay issues relating to the army, state security structures and the judiciary," said the EU Election Observation Mission's final report on the July polls.

The monitors also said that during the campaign season senior editors received "intimidating phone calls", while also noting curbs on the distribution of "broadcast and print outlets, and harassment of individual journalists".

"In such an environment, severe self-censorship was the safest option to continue publication" the report said.

The EU report also noted constraints on freedom of assembly during the period along with the presence of armed forces inside polling stations.

The report called for increased transparency in electoral processes and a review of election rules.

But the monitors downplayed opposition allegations of election-day malfeasance, saying that a days-long delay in the delivery of official results was caused by technical failures.

Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won the election but fell short of an outright majority, forcing him to partner with smaller parties and independents in order to form a government.

He campaigned on promises to end widespread graft while building an "Islamic welfare state".

The European Union slammed "undue" restrictions on freedom of expression during Pakistan's election season this summer in a report released Friday, saying the crackdown led to considerable self-censorship of the media.

The European Union slammed "undue" restrictions on freedom of expression during Pakistan's election season this summer in a report released Friday, saying the crackdown led to considerable self-censorship of the media. The pivotal election has been branded "Pakistan's dirtiest", after widespread claims in the months leading up to the vote that the powerful military was trying to fix the playing field in Khan's favour. The army and Khan, a former cricketer who captained Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992, have denied the claims. "Comprehensive analysis of the media's output, however, reveals that editorial policies were carefully calibrated to downplay issues relating to the army, state security structures and the judiciary," said the EU Election Observation Mission's final report on the July polls. The monitors also said that during the campaign season senior editors received "intimidating phone calls", while also noting curbs on the distribution of "broadcast and print outlets, and harassment of individual journalists". "In such an environment, severe self-censorship was the safest option to continue publication" the report said. The EU report also noted constraints on freedom of assembly during the period along with the presence of armed forces inside polling stations. The report called for increased transparency in electoral processes and a review of election rules. But the monitors downplayed opposition allegations of election-day malfeasance, saying that a days-long delay in the delivery of official results was caused by technical failures. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won the election but fell short of an outright majority, forcing him to partner with smaller parties and independents in order to form a government. He campaigned on promises to end widespread graft while building an "Islamic welfare state".

EU slams curbs on 'freedom of expression' during Pakistan elections

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday criticised Belgium's decision to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets instead of European planes, saying that "strategically it goes against European interests".&nbsp;

The Belgian government announced Thursday that it would replace a fleet of ageing F-16 jets with the F-35 made by Lockheed Martin, rejecting rival offers to buy Eurofighter Typhoons or Rafales from the French group Dassault.

"The decision was linked to a Belgian procedure and the country's political constraints, but strategically it goes against European interests," Macron told journalists during a visit to Bratislava.

"Europe won't be strong unless it is truly sovereign and knows how to protect itself," he said, citing a need to develop "a genuine European defence capacity".

"I will do everything possible to promote European offers in future contracts," Macron added.

Critics said the choice of Lockheed would leave Belgium dependent on maintenance and operational systems firmly in US control, while also assailing a blow to Europe's efforts to unify its defence capacities.

Belgium justified the decision by saying the F-35s offered better value for money while best allowing it to meet its NATO commitments.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said his country would be purchasing equipment from both US and European suppliers as it bolstered defence spending.

On Friday, the French defence ministry announced that Belgium had confirmed an order for 442 Griffon and Jaguar armoured vehicles for around 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion).

The deal had been expected, but the announcement appeared timed to allay tensions between the two NATO allies.

'Lost opportunity'

Last year the European Union launched its "permanent structured cooperation on defence", or PESCO, aimed at unifying defence strategies across the bloc and rationalising a fragmented approach to buying and developing military equipment.

The EU itself is planning to vastly expand its defence budget starting in 2021, allocating some 13 billion euros over seven years to research and develop new equipment -- up from less than 600 million euros in the current budget.

Most countries see no problem allowing non-EU firms to compete for contracts under the PESCO cooperation, but France is leading a handful which want to restrict their participation.

But Washington has warned that excluding US companies could undermine NATO at a time when tensions are running high with Russia and new threats such as cyber attacks are emerging.

On Friday the European aerospace consortium Airbus also said it took note of Belgium's decision not to choose the Eurofighter Typhoon with "sincere regret".

"It is a lost opportunity to strengthen European industrial cooperation in times when the EU is called upon to increase its joint defence efforts," the company said.

It added that in buying Typhoons, Belgium could have eventually joined the French-German Future Combat Air System, aimed at developing next-generation jets to start replacing current Eurofighter and Rafale jets starting in 2035.

Airbus is one of the partners in the Eurofighter consortium, which also includes companies from Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Macron, speaking at the start of a two-day visit to Slovakia and the Czech Republic, also called on people to reject leaders who seek to "divide Europe".

"I will fight wherever they are trying to roll back justice, the ability of journalists to work freely, the role of universities, all which makes us European," he said.

Macron is hoping to counter a surge in support for populist parties and leaders in many European countries ahead of European Parliament elections next May.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday criticised Belgium's decision to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets instead of European planes, saying that "strategically it goes against European interests".

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday criticised Belgium's decision to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets instead of European planes, saying that "strategically it goes against European interests". The Belgian government announced Thursday that it would replace a fleet of ageing F-16 jets with the F-35 made by Lockheed Martin, rejecting rival offers to buy Eurofighter Typhoons or Rafales from the French group Dassault. "The decision was linked to a Belgian procedure and the country's political constraints, but strategically it goes against European interests," Macron told journalists during a visit to Bratislava. "Europe won't be strong unless it is truly sovereign and knows how to protect itself," he said, citing a need to develop "a genuine European defence capacity". "I will do everything possible to promote European offers in future contracts," Macron added. Critics said the choice of Lockheed would leave Belgium dependent on maintenance and operational systems firmly in US control, while also assailing a blow to Europe's efforts to unify its defence capacities. Belgium justified the decision by saying the F-35s offered better value for money while best allowing it to meet its NATO commitments. Prime Minister Charles Michel said his country would be purchasing equipment from both US and European suppliers as it bolstered defence spending. On Friday, the French defence ministry announced that Belgium had confirmed an order for 442 Griffon and Jaguar armoured vehicles for around 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion). The deal had been expected, but the announcement appeared timed to allay tensions between the two NATO allies. 'Lost opportunity' Last year the European Union launched its "permanent structured cooperation on defence", or PESCO, aimed at unifying defence strategies across the bloc and rationalising a fragmented approach to buying and developing military equipment. The EU itself is planning to vastly expand its defence budget starting in 2021, allocating some 13 billion euros over seven years to research and develop new equipment -- up from less than 600 million euros in the current budget. Most countries see no problem allowing non-EU firms to compete for contracts under the PESCO cooperation, but France is leading a handful which want to restrict their participation. But Washington has warned that excluding US companies could undermine NATO at a time when tensions are running high with Russia and new threats such as cyber attacks are emerging. On Friday the European aerospace consortium Airbus also said it took note of Belgium's decision not to choose the Eurofighter Typhoon with "sincere regret". "It is a lost opportunity to strengthen European industrial cooperation in times when the EU is called upon to increase its joint defence efforts," the company said. It added that in buying Typhoons, Belgium could have eventually joined the French-German Future Combat Air System, aimed at developing next-generation jets to start replacing current Eurofighter and Rafale jets starting in 2035. Airbus is one of the partners in the Eurofighter consortium, which also includes companies from Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. Macron, speaking at the start of a two-day visit to Slovakia and the Czech Republic, also called on people to reject leaders who seek to "divide Europe". "I will fight wherever they are trying to roll back justice, the ability of journalists to work freely, the role of universities, all which makes us European," he said. Macron is hoping to counter a surge in support for populist parties and leaders in many European countries ahead of European Parliament elections next May.

Belgian purchase of US jets 'against European interests': Emmanuel Macron

Twenty-seven countries have raised concerns about Britain's future trading terms at the World Trade Organisation, trade sources in Geneva told AFP on Friday, in a move that could delay post-Brexit free trade deals.

The WTO in Geneva -- which has 164 countries as members -- is where countries negotiate the rules of international trade and settle disputes.

Although Britain is a member outright, for decades the EU has represented the UK at the WTO.

But Brexit means the UK has to separate its trade rules from the EU if it wants to act with more independence.

As March approaches -- Britain's Brexit leave date -- the UK has pushed to essentially replicate the WTO rules it currently follows as an EU member, with some technical changes.

But trade sources have told AFP that 27 countries have "raised concerns" about the plans, particularly regarding agriculture tariffs and quotas, as well as other issues.&nbsp;

The move has been described as a "welcome to reality" moment for the UK, by analysts.

"All these countries, they are all saying we would like something, we want a bigger share of the pie," David Henig, Director of the UK Trade Policy Project, told AFP.

"While the UK is in these (WTO) negotiations, that can potentially delay bilateral deals with other countries," he said.

A delay to new free trade deals post-Brexit -- touted as a key benefit of leaving the EU by Brexit supporters -- could have economic consequences for the UK.

But it is still unclear whether Britain's proposed Brexit deal will even leave the UK with much power to negotiate free trade deals.

Until a Brexit deal is completed, it is impossible to know what terms of trade will be negotiated at the WTO.

Many of the concerns raised by other countries at the WTO could even fall away if the UK stays part of the EU's custom's union for example, trade sources said.

- National interests - 
The WTO said the situation is without precedent but that while discussions take place, trade will continue as normal.

"The type of conversation that will take place very much depends on the outcome of the UK-EU bilateral negotiation," the WTO said in a statement.

A separate issue is whether British businesses will continue to get equal access to bid for government contracts in other WTO countries, known as government procurement agreements.&nbsp;

"The other countries might decide to keep treating British businesses the same way, but they don’t have to," warned Doctor Lorand Bartels, a teacher of WTO law at the University of Cambridge.

If the UK does not reach a deal with other WTO countries then, "British businesses would not be protected when bidding for government contracts," Dr Bartels said.

12 percent of GDP is the amount spent on average in OECD countries on public procurement, according to the organisation.

According to market analysis site MLex, Russia is one of the countries to have objected to the British proposals, saying they do not meet obligations "under several basic WTO provisions”.

Other countries have made it clear that they think the plans will put them at a disadvantage, the site said.

The WTO played down the significance, saying countries had simply reserved their right "to sit down and discuss with the British" negotiations in the coming months.

The developments are a reminder of the huge complexities Britain faces to finalise deals while countries promote their own national interests.

"There is a lot of negotiating to go ahead," Henig said.

Twenty-seven countries have raised concerns about Britain's future trading terms at the World Trade Organisation, trade sources in Geneva told AFP on Friday, in a move that could delay post-Brexit free trade deals.

Twenty-seven countries have raised concerns about Britain's future trading terms at the World Trade Organisation, trade sources in Geneva told AFP on Friday, in a move that could delay post-Brexit free trade deals. The WTO in Geneva -- which has 164 countries as members -- is where countries negotiate the rules of international trade and settle disputes. Although Britain is a member outright, for decades the EU has represented the UK at the WTO. But Brexit means the UK has to separate its trade rules from the EU if it wants to act with more independence. As March approaches -- Britain's Brexit leave date -- the UK has pushed to essentially replicate the WTO rules it currently follows as an EU member, with some technical changes. But trade sources have told AFP that 27 countries have "raised concerns" about the plans, particularly regarding agriculture tariffs and quotas, as well as other issues. The move has been described as a "welcome to reality" moment for the UK, by analysts. "All these countries, they are all saying we would like something, we want a bigger share of the pie," David Henig, Director of the UK Trade Policy Project, told AFP. "While the UK is in these (WTO) negotiations, that can potentially delay bilateral deals with other countries," he said. A delay to new free trade deals post-Brexit -- touted as a key benefit of leaving the EU by Brexit supporters -- could have economic consequences for the UK. But it is still unclear whether Britain's proposed Brexit deal will even leave the UK with much power to negotiate free trade deals. Until a Brexit deal is completed, it is impossible to know what terms of trade will be negotiated at the WTO. Many of the concerns raised by other countries at the WTO could even fall away if the UK stays part of the EU's custom's union for example, trade sources said. - National interests - The WTO said the situation is without precedent but that while discussions take place, trade will continue as normal. "The type of conversation that will take place very much depends on the outcome of the UK-EU bilateral negotiation," the WTO said in a statement. A separate issue is whether British businesses will continue to get equal access to bid for government contracts in other WTO countries, known as government procurement agreements. "The other countries might decide to keep treating British businesses the same way, but they don’t have to," warned Doctor Lorand Bartels, a teacher of WTO law at the University of Cambridge. If the UK does not reach a deal with other WTO countries then, "British businesses would not be protected when bidding for government contracts," Dr Bartels said. 12 percent of GDP is the amount spent on average in OECD countries on public procurement, according to the organisation. According to market analysis site MLex, Russia is one of the countries to have objected to the British proposals, saying they do not meet obligations "under several basic WTO provisions”. Other countries have made it clear that they think the plans will put them at a disadvantage, the site said. The WTO played down the significance, saying countries had simply reserved their right "to sit down and discuss with the British" negotiations in the coming months. The developments are a reminder of the huge complexities Britain faces to finalise deals while countries promote their own national interests. "There is a lot of negotiating to go ahead," Henig said.

27 countries raise concerns at WTO over Britain's post-Brexit trade plans

The European Parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Thursday to Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian film-maker jailed in Russia. 
 
EU lawmakers said they supported his protests against the 2014 Russian annexation of Sentsov's native Ukraine. 
 
Now aged 42, he was jailed for 20 years on terrorism charges, he says are politically motivated. He staged a long hunger strike this year. 
 
The Sakharov Prize is named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, a nuclear physicist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975 for his efforts to stand up for civil rights. 
 
Parliament President Antonio Tajani told the legislature in Strasbourg that the award recognised Sentsov`s courage. 
 
Saying he was in poor health after his hunger strike, Tajani added: "We call upon the authorities to release him immediately." 
&nbsp;

The European Parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Thursday to Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian film-maker jailed in Russia. EU lawmakers said they supported his protests against the 2014 Russian annexation of Sentsov's native Ukraine.

The European Parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Thursday to Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian film-maker jailed in Russia. EU lawmakers said they supported his protests against the 2014 Russian annexation of Sentsov's native Ukraine. Now aged 42, he was jailed for 20 years on terrorism charges, he says are politically motivated. He staged a long hunger strike this year. The Sakharov Prize is named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, a nuclear physicist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975 for his efforts to stand up for civil rights. Parliament President Antonio Tajani told the legislature in Strasbourg that the award recognised Sentsov`s courage. Saying he was in poor health after his hunger strike, Tajani added: "We call upon the authorities to release him immediately."

Jailed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov wins EU rights award

The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has expressed concern about changes to Romania's penal code recently pushed through by the ruling Social Democratic Party which its critics say are unconstitutional.

During a debate in the European Parliament with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned Romania not to undermine its bid to join Europe's passport-free Schengen zone.

"I hope Romania joins the Schengen zone, but it must not mortgage that by turning away from the (European) principles on rule of law," Juncker said during debate in the European Parliament.&nbsp;

"I hope in Romania there is a consensus for the fight against corruption, otherwise the European Commission will have trouble with its recommendations and getting them adopted unanimously," he added.

To become a member of the Schengen zone, Romania needs a recommendation from the Commission and unanimous support from the other 27 EU member countries.&nbsp;

Romania's and neighbouring Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen zone have been blocked since 2007.

During its tenure of the six-month presidency from January 1, Juncker suggested, Romania's recommendations on other subjects may also face trouble.&nbsp;

Several members of the European Parliament took Iohannis to task over what they see is the damage to the rule of law in Romania caused by the judicial reforms.

'Systemic threat'&nbsp;

Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE liberal group in the parliament, also warned that the weakening of the penal code undermined the fight against corruption.

Verhofstadt urged Romania not to "follow the example" of Poland and Hungary for which EU bodies have launched actions that could lead to unprecedented sanctions for allegedly posing a "systemic threat" to the rule of law.

EU Commission vice president Frans Timmermans has repeatedly expressed his "concern" about some of Romania's judicial changes and asked clarification from Prime Minister Dancila in a letter sent earlier this month.&nbsp;

In June, 12 western countries warned that some of Romania's judicial reforms could "impede cooperation (with Romania) in international law enforcement."

Prosecutors have had some success in the clamping down on corruption in Romania, one of the EU's most graft-ridden country, but the government accuses them of overstepping their power.

After winning elections in late 2016, the Social Democrat-led government attempted to water down anti-corruption legislation, but abandoned the plans in face of the biggest wave of protests since the collapse of communism in 1989.

The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project, enshrining the fundamental right to free movement.

Twenty-two EU countries, plus non-EU Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are part of Schengen. The six EU countries that do not participate are Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Croatia.

The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone.

The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has expressed concern about changes to Romania's penal code recently pushed through by the ruling Social Democratic Party which its critics say are unconstitutional. During a debate in the European Parliament with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned Romania not to undermine its bid to join Europe's passport-free Schengen zone. "I hope Romania joins the Schengen zone, but it must not mortgage that by turning away from the (European) principles on rule of law," Juncker said during debate in the European Parliament. "I hope in Romania there is a consensus for the fight against corruption, otherwise the European Commission will have trouble with its recommendations and getting them adopted unanimously," he added. To become a member of the Schengen zone, Romania needs a recommendation from the Commission and unanimous support from the other 27 EU member countries. Romania's and neighbouring Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen zone have been blocked since 2007. During its tenure of the six-month presidency from January 1, Juncker suggested, Romania's recommendations on other subjects may also face trouble. Several members of the European Parliament took Iohannis to task over what they see is the damage to the rule of law in Romania caused by the judicial reforms. 'Systemic threat' Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE liberal group in the parliament, also warned that the weakening of the penal code undermined the fight against corruption. Verhofstadt urged Romania not to "follow the example" of Poland and Hungary for which EU bodies have launched actions that could lead to unprecedented sanctions for allegedly posing a "systemic threat" to the rule of law. EU Commission vice president Frans Timmermans has repeatedly expressed his "concern" about some of Romania's judicial changes and asked clarification from Prime Minister Dancila in a letter sent earlier this month. In June, 12 western countries warned that some of Romania's judicial reforms could "impede cooperation (with Romania) in international law enforcement." Prosecutors have had some success in the clamping down on corruption in Romania, one of the EU's most graft-ridden country, but the government accuses them of overstepping their power. After winning elections in late 2016, the Social Democrat-led government attempted to water down anti-corruption legislation, but abandoned the plans in face of the biggest wave of protests since the collapse of communism in 1989. The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project, enshrining the fundamental right to free movement. Twenty-two EU countries, plus non-EU Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are part of Schengen. The six EU countries that do not participate are Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Croatia.

Romania urged to heed rule of law before assuming EU presidency

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the European Union marched through London on Saturday in the biggest demonstration so far to demand that the British government holds a public vote on the terms of Brexit.

The protesters waved the blue and gold flag of the EU and held up "Bollocks to Brexit" banners under sunny skies to call for another referendum on the eventual deal on how Britain will leave the world's biggest trading bloc.

The march comes after another tumultuous week for Prime Minister Theresa May in which she failed to agree a divorce deal with EU leaders in Brussels and infuriated members of her own party by making further concessions in the talks.

With just over five months until Britain is due to leave there is no clarity about what a future trade deal with the EU will look like and some rebels in May's Conservative Party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one.

James McGrory, one of the organisers of the march, said voters should have the chance to change their minds because the decision will impact their lives for generations.

"People think the Brexit negotiations are a total mess, they have no faith in the government to deliver the promises that were made, partly because they cannot be delivered," he said.

At the march, demonstrators carried placards saying "Brexit is pants", "Time for an EU turn" and "European and proud."

Organisers said about 670,000 people took part in the march, which would make it the largest in Britain since a demonstration against the Iraq war in 2003.

The "People's Vote" campaign, which includes several pro-EU groups, said they had stewards stationed at regular intervals to estimate the size of the crowd. The police did not provide an independent estimate of numbers participating.

Protesters originally gathered near Hyde Park and then walked past Downing Street and finished outside parliament where they listened to politicians from all main political parties.

Brexit reversed?

Britain's 2016 referendum saw 52 per cent vote in favour of leaving the European Union. But the past two years have been politically fraught as the government has struggled to agree on a plan and there are fears that Britain could leave the bloc without a deal.

Some opinion polls have shown a slight shift in favour of remaining in the European Union, but there has yet to be a decisive change in attitudes and many in Britain say they have become increasingly bored by Brexit.

The prime minister has repeatedly ruled out holding a second referendum. The opposition Labour party's Brexit spokesman said last month his party open to a second referendum with the option of staying in the bloc in certain circumstances.

In Belfast in Northern Ireland, around 2,000 people gathered on Saturday to oppose Brexit.

Brendan Heading, a 39-year-old IT worker, said he was worried the decision to leave the EU would damage the economy and could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom.

"I feel that Brexit threatens prosperity and stability," he said. "People should have the opportunity to vote for an alternative based on what we now know."

Brexit supporters held their own rally in the town of Harrogate in the north of England.

Richard Tice, Vice-Chairman of Leave Means Leave and one of the speakers at the event, described the people on the march in London as "losers" and said a second referendum would trigger a constitutional crisis.

"We had a vote, we voted to leave, the idea to have a second referendum would be incredibly damaging," he said.

"People need to be under no illusions as to how people feel about what is a significant potential for a total betrayal of democracy in this country."

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the European Union marched through London on Saturday in the biggest demonstration so far to demand that the British government holds a public vote on the terms of Brexit.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the European Union marched through London on Saturday in the biggest demonstration so far to demand that the British government holds a public vote on the terms of Brexit. The protesters waved the blue and gold flag of the EU and held up "Bollocks to Brexit" banners under sunny skies to call for another referendum on the eventual deal on how Britain will leave the world's biggest trading bloc. The march comes after another tumultuous week for Prime Minister Theresa May in which she failed to agree a divorce deal with EU leaders in Brussels and infuriated members of her own party by making further concessions in the talks. With just over five months until Britain is due to leave there is no clarity about what a future trade deal with the EU will look like and some rebels in May's Conservative Party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one. James McGrory, one of the organisers of the march, said voters should have the chance to change their minds because the decision will impact their lives for generations. "People think the Brexit negotiations are a total mess, they have no faith in the government to deliver the promises that were made, partly because they cannot be delivered," he said. At the march, demonstrators carried placards saying "Brexit is pants", "Time for an EU turn" and "European and proud." Organisers said about 670,000 people took part in the march, which would make it the largest in Britain since a demonstration against the Iraq war in 2003. The "People's Vote" campaign, which includes several pro-EU groups, said they had stewards stationed at regular intervals to estimate the size of the crowd. The police did not provide an independent estimate of numbers participating. Protesters originally gathered near Hyde Park and then walked past Downing Street and finished outside parliament where they listened to politicians from all main political parties. Brexit reversed? Britain's 2016 referendum saw 52 per cent vote in favour of leaving the European Union. But the past two years have been politically fraught as the government has struggled to agree on a plan and there are fears that Britain could leave the bloc without a deal. Some opinion polls have shown a slight shift in favour of remaining in the European Union, but there has yet to be a decisive change in attitudes and many in Britain say they have become increasingly bored by Brexit. The prime minister has repeatedly ruled out holding a second referendum. The opposition Labour party's Brexit spokesman said last month his party open to a second referendum with the option of staying in the bloc in certain circumstances. In Belfast in Northern Ireland, around 2,000 people gathered on Saturday to oppose Brexit. Brendan Heading, a 39-year-old IT worker, said he was worried the decision to leave the EU would damage the economy and could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom. "I feel that Brexit threatens prosperity and stability," he said. "People should have the opportunity to vote for an alternative based on what we now know." Brexit supporters held their own rally in the town of Harrogate in the north of England. Richard Tice, Vice-Chairman of Leave Means Leave and one of the speakers at the event, described the people on the march in London as "losers" and said a second referendum would trigger a constitutional crisis. "We had a vote, we voted to leave, the idea to have a second referendum would be incredibly damaging," he said. "People need to be under no illusions as to how people feel about what is a significant potential for a total betrayal of democracy in this country."

Hundreds of thousands take to streets in London demanding second Brexit vote

The European Union's top court on Friday ordered Poland to "immediately suspend" its decision to lower the retirement age of its Supreme Court judges, which it said threatens judicial independence.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, last month took Poland's rightwing government to the European Court of Justice for lowering the age at which Supreme Court judges must retire from 70 to 65.

"Poland must immediately suspend the application of the provisions of national legislation relating to the lowering of the retirement age for Supreme Court judges," the European Court of Justice said.

The Commission had asked the court in Luxembourg to take a decision as "soon as possible", warning that Warsaw was accelerating retirements.

Speaking in Brussels, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his government had during "the last few hours received the court of justice decision".

"We will certainly respond to it," he added.

"We will see what these (EU) institutions are proposing. When we take them into consideration, several possibilities will be analysed."

The court said the order to suspend retirements "is to apply with retroactive effect" after noting that several judges had already been forced to retire.

The court, which said it would issue a final ruling at a later date, could impose fines if it finds Poland in breach of EU law.

The Commission has expressed concern the new retirement age will hasten the departure of judges appointed under previous governments, allowing the appointment of figures seen as loyal by Warsaw's current leadership.

The new retirement age requires more than a third of current Supreme Court judges to step down, including chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf.

Calling the law a "purge", Gersdorf has refused to step down, citing a constitutional guarantee that she serve a six-year term until 2020.

The law more broadly violates Poland's obligations under the EU treaty, which it signed onto when it joined the bloc in 2004, the commission said.

The European Union's top court on Friday ordered Poland to "immediately suspend" its decision to lower the retirement age of its Supreme Court judges, which it said threatens judicial independence.

The European Union's top court on Friday ordered Poland to "immediately suspend" its decision to lower the retirement age of its Supreme Court judges, which it said threatens judicial independence. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, last month took Poland's rightwing government to the European Court of Justice for lowering the age at which Supreme Court judges must retire from 70 to 65. "Poland must immediately suspend the application of the provisions of national legislation relating to the lowering of the retirement age for Supreme Court judges," the European Court of Justice said. The Commission had asked the court in Luxembourg to take a decision as "soon as possible", warning that Warsaw was accelerating retirements. Speaking in Brussels, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his government had during "the last few hours received the court of justice decision". "We will certainly respond to it," he added. "We will see what these (EU) institutions are proposing. When we take them into consideration, several possibilities will be analysed." The court said the order to suspend retirements "is to apply with retroactive effect" after noting that several judges had already been forced to retire. The court, which said it would issue a final ruling at a later date, could impose fines if it finds Poland in breach of EU law. The Commission has expressed concern the new retirement age will hasten the departure of judges appointed under previous governments, allowing the appointment of figures seen as loyal by Warsaw's current leadership. The new retirement age requires more than a third of current Supreme Court judges to step down, including chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf. Calling the law a "purge", Gersdorf has refused to step down, citing a constitutional guarantee that she serve a six-year term until 2020. The law more broadly violates Poland's obligations under the EU treaty, which it signed onto when it joined the bloc in 2004, the commission said.

European Union top court orders Poland to suspend Supreme Court retirements

By Nikos Skoutaris

British Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that the result of the Brexit referendum “was a vote to take control of our borders”. In order to do that, the UK will be leaving both the EU single market and the customs union. At the same time, May’s government has committed to protecting the Good Friday Agreement by not accepting any physical infrastructure at the Irish land border. So, the UK and the EU have been facing an almost unsolvable riddle. How can they keep open a land border between an EU member state and a country that is outside the single market and the customs union?

The text of the political agreement reached between the UK and EU in December 2017 included a formula to square the circle. It stated that the aim of future negotiations would be to address the challenge of the Irish border through the overall EU-UK relationship. If the final withdrawal agreement doesn’t provide a frictionless invisible border, then “specific solutions” will apply to Northern Ireland. But if the UK and the EU cannot agree on those specific solutions, then Northern Ireland or the UK as a whole will remain aligned to the single market and the customs union.

Since then, the UK and EU negotiators have struggled to find a legally operative text that would both fulfil the commitment to keep the land border open and respect the political sensitivities of all the interested parties. Below are the proposals on the table.

The EU backstop

The first attempt to legally codify the December 2017 commitment came in the Draft Withdrawal Treaty published by the European Union in February 2018. This proposed setting up a common regulatory area comprising the European Union and Northern Ireland. The region would, therefore, remain in the EU customs territory. May vehemently rejected the plan noting that “no UK prime minister could agree to it”.

The main problem with the suggested arrangement is that it will create a customs border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. This is why EU negotiator Michel Barnier tried to de-dramatise the proposed solution by insisting that the whole arrangement creates neither a land nor a sea border. It is merely “a set of technical checks and controls”.

Arlene Foster, leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, insists that “the entirety of the UK should be leaving the single market and the customs union”. She has threatened to withdraw the parliamentary support on which May’s government relies if Northern Ireland is treated differently to the UK after Brexit.

The UK backstop 
 
In June 2017, the UK government published its own counter-proposal for a backstop arrangement. The biggest difference between the two proposals is that the UK’s applies to the whole country and not just to Northern Ireland. The entire territory of the UK and the Channel Islands would remain part of the customs territory of the European Union, even after the end of the transition period in December 2020.

However, it is not entirely clear whether under this solution there would also be regulatory alignment between the UK and the EU, keeping the UK effectively within a significant part of the single market. Be that as it may, such an arrangement respects the DUP’s red lines but angers Eurosceptic MPs who do not welcome the prospect of the UK being aligned with EU rules in the long term. This group could vote against such a deal when it reaches parliament.

A backstop to a backstop

More problematic, from an EU point of view, is that May insists that the backstop should be a “temporary solution” because the UK does not want to be “stuck permanently in single customs territory, unable to do meaningful trade deals”. Given that the UK insists on legally entrenching the deadline of the backstop option, the EU is asking for a “backstop to a backstop” specific to Northern Ireland that will not be time-limited.

Endgame

The negotiations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU are reaching their final stages and it is difficult to see how a solution to the Irish border conundrum can be found without some compromise. The solemn commitment that the UK has undertaken to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to keep the Irish land border open raises a significant dilemma. Either it has to opt for a much closer relationship with the EU than the one described in its red lines or it has to accept some differentiation for Northern Ireland.

(Nikos Skoutaris is Senior Lecturer in European Union Law, School of Law, University of East Anglia)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/brexit-backstop-refresh-why-the-uk-and-eu-cant-agree-on-northern-ireland-105080">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Nikos Skoutaris British Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that the result of the Brexit referendum “was a vote to take control of our borders”. In order to do that, the UK will be leaving both the EU single market and the customs union.

By Nikos Skoutaris British Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that the result of the Brexit referendum “was a vote to take control of our borders”. In order to do that, the UK will be leaving both the EU single market and the customs union. At the same time, May’s government has committed to protecting the Good Friday Agreement by not accepting any physical infrastructure at the Irish land border. So, the UK and the EU have been facing an almost unsolvable riddle. How can they keep open a land border between an EU member state and a country that is outside the single market and the customs union? The text of the political agreement reached between the UK and EU in December 2017 included a formula to square the circle. It stated that the aim of future negotiations would be to address the challenge of the Irish border through the overall EU-UK relationship. If the final withdrawal agreement doesn’t provide a frictionless invisible border, then “specific solutions” will apply to Northern Ireland. But if the UK and the EU cannot agree on those specific solutions, then Northern Ireland or the UK as a whole will remain aligned to the single market and the customs union. Since then, the UK and EU negotiators have struggled to find a legally operative text that would both fulfil the commitment to keep the land border open and respect the political sensitivities of all the interested parties. Below are the proposals on the table. The EU backstop The first attempt to legally codify the December 2017 commitment came in the Draft Withdrawal Treaty published by the European Union in February 2018. This proposed setting up a common regulatory area comprising the European Union and Northern Ireland. The region would, therefore, remain in the EU customs territory. May vehemently rejected the plan noting that “no UK prime minister could agree to it”. The main problem with the suggested arrangement is that it will create a customs border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. This is why EU negotiator Michel Barnier tried to de-dramatise the proposed solution by insisting that the whole arrangement creates neither a land nor a sea border. It is merely “a set of technical checks and controls”. Arlene Foster, leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, insists that “the entirety of the UK should be leaving the single market and the customs union”. She has threatened to withdraw the parliamentary support on which May’s government relies if Northern Ireland is treated differently to the UK after Brexit. The UK backstop In June 2017, the UK government published its own counter-proposal for a backstop arrangement. The biggest difference between the two proposals is that the UK’s applies to the whole country and not just to Northern Ireland. The entire territory of the UK and the Channel Islands would remain part of the customs territory of the European Union, even after the end of the transition period in December 2020. However, it is not entirely clear whether under this solution there would also be regulatory alignment between the UK and the EU, keeping the UK effectively within a significant part of the single market. Be that as it may, such an arrangement respects the DUP’s red lines but angers Eurosceptic MPs who do not welcome the prospect of the UK being aligned with EU rules in the long term. This group could vote against such a deal when it reaches parliament. A backstop to a backstop More problematic, from an EU point of view, is that May insists that the backstop should be a “temporary solution” because the UK does not want to be “stuck permanently in single customs territory, unable to do meaningful trade deals”. Given that the UK insists on legally entrenching the deadline of the backstop option, the EU is asking for a “backstop to a backstop” specific to Northern Ireland that will not be time-limited. Endgame The negotiations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU are reaching their final stages and it is difficult to see how a solution to the Irish border conundrum can be found without some compromise. The solemn commitment that the UK has undertaken to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to keep the Irish land border open raises a significant dilemma. Either it has to opt for a much closer relationship with the EU than the one described in its red lines or it has to accept some differentiation for Northern Ireland. (Nikos Skoutaris is Senior Lecturer in European Union Law, School of Law, University of East Anglia) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

UK and EU face an almost unsolvable riddle

European leaders insisted Thursday that Prime Minister Theresa May must do more to avoid Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, even after she indicated she was open to extending a Brexit transition period if it helped unblock negotiations.

At a summit in Brussels, May confirmed that she is considering the extension idea floated by the EU as a possible way to break the deadlock over how to keep Britain's border with Ireland open after Brexit.

But other EU nations warned this may not resolve the impasse, which has raised fears of the potentially catastrophic scenario of Britain crashing out in March without any agreement.

May's own officials also admitted that an extension -- which has sparked outrage among eurosceptics at home -- would not affect London's position on the Irish border.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel repeated an earlier call from EU Council President Donald Tusk for the prime minister to act, saying: "More than ever, the ball is in Britain's court."

Longer transition

This week's Brussels summit had been set as the deadline for a draft deal, but the other 27 EU leaders were left once again demanding more progress from London.

Arriving for the second day on Thursday, May noted that both sides remained at odds over a "backstop" plan to avoid frontier checks between Britain and Ireland if and until a new trade deal to resolve the issue can be signed.

"A further idea that has emerged -- and it is an idea at this stage -- is to create an option to extend the implementation period for a matter of months," she told reporters.

Currently a transition phase is planned from Brexit next March until the end of December 2020, to allow time to sign a new EU-UK trade deal.

Extending this could reduce the likelihood of having to use any "backstop" plan, thus taking the heat out of the most contested Brexit issue.

The EU suggests that the British province of Northern Ireland stay aligned to its single market and customs union until a new trade deal is agreed.

But Britain has rejected this, proposing instead that the whole United Kingdom temporarily follow EU customs rules -- something Brussels in turn has said is not possible.

A senior British official confirmed Thursday that even if the transition were extended, Britain remained opposed to the EU's backstop plan.

EU nations also questioned whether the idea would change the situation.

A source in the French presidency warned that an extension "could be part of the discussion but is not an ideal solution".

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel added that Britain's general approach remained a problem.

"It's not possible that the UK keeps all the advantages from the common market but only under its own conditions," he told reporters.

'Embarrassing climbdown'

Even if May's suggestion of an extension to the transition is unlikely to break the deadlock in Brussels, it energised her critics in London.

The Conservative leader has been struggling since the 2016 vote for Brexit to find a compromise divorce deal that is acceptable to both the EU and her own MPs, who could block the final accord in the House of Commons.

Boris Johnson and David Davis, two former ministers who quit in July over her approach to Brexit, signed a joint letter demanding Britain avoid the "purgatory of perpetual membership of the EU's customs union".

On the other side of the political divide, the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats said extending the transition was another "embarrassing climbdown" for May.

May did little to deflect their anger by suggesting that she did not expect any extension to be used, because she expected a trade deal before December 2020.

The prime minister had made a personal plea to fellow EU leaders on Wednesday to recognise the progress made so far and keep negotiating.

Over dinner afterwards, they agreed to keep talking, but upped the pressure by refusing to sign off on a planned special summit next month to seal the divorce.

Failure to meet in November could see a draft Brexit deal pushed back to a December summit, leaving little time for its ratification by the British and European parliaments.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said EU leaders had asked the bloc's executive "to work with even more vigour on a no-deal scenario".&nbsp;

European leaders insisted Thursday that Prime Minister Theresa May must do more to avoid Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, even after she indicated she was open to extending a Brexit transition period if it helped unblock negotiations.

European leaders insisted Thursday that Prime Minister Theresa May must do more to avoid Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, even after she indicated she was open to extending a Brexit transition period if it helped unblock negotiations. At a summit in Brussels, May confirmed that she is considering the extension idea floated by the EU as a possible way to break the deadlock over how to keep Britain's border with Ireland open after Brexit. But other EU nations warned this may not resolve the impasse, which has raised fears of the potentially catastrophic scenario of Britain crashing out in March without any agreement. May's own officials also admitted that an extension -- which has sparked outrage among eurosceptics at home -- would not affect London's position on the Irish border. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel repeated an earlier call from EU Council President Donald Tusk for the prime minister to act, saying: "More than ever, the ball is in Britain's court." Longer transition This week's Brussels summit had been set as the deadline for a draft deal, but the other 27 EU leaders were left once again demanding more progress from London. Arriving for the second day on Thursday, May noted that both sides remained at odds over a "backstop" plan to avoid frontier checks between Britain and Ireland if and until a new trade deal to resolve the issue can be signed. "A further idea that has emerged -- and it is an idea at this stage -- is to create an option to extend the implementation period for a matter of months," she told reporters. Currently a transition phase is planned from Brexit next March until the end of December 2020, to allow time to sign a new EU-UK trade deal. Extending this could reduce the likelihood of having to use any "backstop" plan, thus taking the heat out of the most contested Brexit issue. The EU suggests that the British province of Northern Ireland stay aligned to its single market and customs union until a new trade deal is agreed. But Britain has rejected this, proposing instead that the whole United Kingdom temporarily follow EU customs rules -- something Brussels in turn has said is not possible. A senior British official confirmed Thursday that even if the transition were extended, Britain remained opposed to the EU's backstop plan. EU nations also questioned whether the idea would change the situation. A source in the French presidency warned that an extension "could be part of the discussion but is not an ideal solution". Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel added that Britain's general approach remained a problem. "It's not possible that the UK keeps all the advantages from the common market but only under its own conditions," he told reporters. 'Embarrassing climbdown' Even if May's suggestion of an extension to the transition is unlikely to break the deadlock in Brussels, it energised her critics in London. The Conservative leader has been struggling since the 2016 vote for Brexit to find a compromise divorce deal that is acceptable to both the EU and her own MPs, who could block the final accord in the House of Commons. Boris Johnson and David Davis, two former ministers who quit in July over her approach to Brexit, signed a joint letter demanding Britain avoid the "purgatory of perpetual membership of the EU's customs union". On the other side of the political divide, the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats said extending the transition was another "embarrassing climbdown" for May. May did little to deflect their anger by suggesting that she did not expect any extension to be used, because she expected a trade deal before December 2020. The prime minister had made a personal plea to fellow EU leaders on Wednesday to recognise the progress made so far and keep negotiating. Over dinner afterwards, they agreed to keep talking, but upped the pressure by refusing to sign off on a planned special summit next month to seal the divorce. Failure to meet in November could see a draft Brexit deal pushed back to a December summit, leaving little time for its ratification by the British and European parliaments. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said EU leaders had asked the bloc's executive "to work with even more vigour on a no-deal scenario".

UK PM mulls longer Brexit transition but European Union demands more progress

Croatia expects to meet the technical criteria for the border-free European Union’s Schengen zone by year-end and hopes to join it by 2020, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Croatia is one of six European Union members not to be part of the passport-free Schengen zone, which area comprises 22 EU member states as well as four non-members — Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

“Our goal is to meet all the technical criteria by the end of this year. The European Commission must then assess if we’re ready to join which we hope it will do before the next elections for the European Parliament next May,” Terezija Gras, state secretary in the Interior Ministry, told Reuters in an interview.

Gras said Schengen zone membership would help to improve security in Croatia and the wider EU. The free movement of people would also benefit the economy, especially tourism which accounts for almost 20 per cent of Croatia’s gross domestic product, she said.

“Control over the EU’s external borders is the most demanding aspect of our preparations. We have already fully equipped our border with Serbia and now we’re doing it on the border with Bosnia,” Gras said.

Croatia is on the route taken by many migrants from the Middle East and central Asia who are trying to reach wealthier EU states. Some cross into Croatia from Bosnia undeclared.

By the end of September, the number of unauthorised migrants in Croatia had risen by more than 30 per cent from an estimated 4,800 people last year, police said this month. Most of them were from Afghanistan.

Once the European Commission gives its approval, member states must approve it politically. One potential stumbling block is Croatia’s border dispute with neighbouring Slovenia, which blocked Croatia’s EU bid in 2009 for the same reason.

“I believe a win-win solution is possible and we’re keen to work on that. We think as well that, for security reasons, it is also in Slovenia’s interest to have Croatia within the Schengen area,” Gras said.

Croatia’s conservative-led government also hopes that in 2020 it will also achieve entry to the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-2), a waiting room for adopting the euro.

Croatia expects to meet the technical criteria for the border-free European Union’s Schengen zone by year-end and hopes to join it by 2020, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Croatia expects to meet the technical criteria for the border-free European Union’s Schengen zone by year-end and hopes to join it by 2020, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday. Croatia is one of six European Union members not to be part of the passport-free Schengen zone, which area comprises 22 EU member states as well as four non-members — Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. “Our goal is to meet all the technical criteria by the end of this year. The European Commission must then assess if we’re ready to join which we hope it will do before the next elections for the European Parliament next May,” Terezija Gras, state secretary in the Interior Ministry, told Reuters in an interview. Gras said Schengen zone membership would help to improve security in Croatia and the wider EU. The free movement of people would also benefit the economy, especially tourism which accounts for almost 20 per cent of Croatia’s gross domestic product, she said. “Control over the EU’s external borders is the most demanding aspect of our preparations. We have already fully equipped our border with Serbia and now we’re doing it on the border with Bosnia,” Gras said. Croatia is on the route taken by many migrants from the Middle East and central Asia who are trying to reach wealthier EU states. Some cross into Croatia from Bosnia undeclared. By the end of September, the number of unauthorised migrants in Croatia had risen by more than 30 per cent from an estimated 4,800 people last year, police said this month. Most of them were from Afghanistan. Once the European Commission gives its approval, member states must approve it politically. One potential stumbling block is Croatia’s border dispute with neighbouring Slovenia, which blocked Croatia’s EU bid in 2009 for the same reason. “I believe a win-win solution is possible and we’re keen to work on that. We think as well that, for security reasons, it is also in Slovenia’s interest to have Croatia within the Schengen area,” Gras said. Croatia’s conservative-led government also hopes that in 2020 it will also achieve entry to the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-2), a waiting room for adopting the euro.

Croatia on course for Schengen zone entry in 2020: Government official

Top EU officials were warned Wednesday to make plans to cope with the fallout from a "no-deal" Brexit as their chief negotiator said talks with Britain must make more progress before next week's crunch summit.

EU Brexit pointman Michel Barnier and Martin Selmayr, the powerful head of the EU Commission's bureaucracy, briefed commissioners on progress just a week before the October 18 meeting that has been dubbed a "moment of truth."

According to spokesman Margaritis Schinas, Barnier "recalled that decisive progress must be made in time for the October European Council next week and negotiations at technical level will continue this week."

Selmayr meanwhile "provided a brief update on the state of play of the Commission preparedness work and recalled the importance for all stakeholders to prepare for all outcomes and at all levels."

Selmayr, secretary general of the European Commission, has been tasked with coordinating preparedness to protect the EU from economic and political damage if Britain leaves the bloc on March 29 next year without a divorce deal in place.

Barnier is attempting to negotiate such a deal, but time is running out and EU leaders have made it clear that they expect Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May to come up with a way to unblock talks before next week.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU commissioner for migration and home affairs, said Barnier had briefed the body on the state of play in the negotiations.

"Michel Barnier and his team are working day and night to reach a deal, but we are not there yet," he said. He referred further questions to Barnier, who was due to make a speech to European business leaders later in the day. &nbsp;

Top EU officials were warned Wednesday to make plans to cope with the fallout from a "no-deal" Brexit as their chief negotiator said talks with Britain must make more progress before next week's crunch summit.

Top EU officials were warned Wednesday to make plans to cope with the fallout from a "no-deal" Brexit as their chief negotiator said talks with Britain must make more progress before next week's crunch summit. EU Brexit pointman Michel Barnier and Martin Selmayr, the powerful head of the EU Commission's bureaucracy, briefed commissioners on progress just a week before the October 18 meeting that has been dubbed a "moment of truth." According to spokesman Margaritis Schinas, Barnier "recalled that decisive progress must be made in time for the October European Council next week and negotiations at technical level will continue this week." Selmayr meanwhile "provided a brief update on the state of play of the Commission preparedness work and recalled the importance for all stakeholders to prepare for all outcomes and at all levels." Selmayr, secretary general of the European Commission, has been tasked with coordinating preparedness to protect the EU from economic and political damage if Britain leaves the bloc on March 29 next year without a divorce deal in place. Barnier is attempting to negotiate such a deal, but time is running out and EU leaders have made it clear that they expect Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May to come up with a way to unblock talks before next week. Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU commissioner for migration and home affairs, said Barnier had briefed the body on the state of play in the negotiations. "Michel Barnier and his team are working day and night to reach a deal, but we are not there yet," he said. He referred further questions to Barnier, who was due to make a speech to European business leaders later in the day.

EU officials warned to prepare for no-deal Brexit

Huskies, Chihuahuas, boxers and beagles -- and even a lumbering Leonberger -- joined a "Wooferendum march" in central London on Sunday as their pro-European owners called for a new people's vote on Brexit.

The gathering commanded politicians, actors and activists, accompanied by hundreds of four-legged friends, all united in their opposition to Britain's departure from the EU next March.&nbsp;

"We will not roll over... it's time for the Wooferendum," said Labour MP Stella Creasy, a self-confessed cat -- not dog -- owner, in a pun-laden speech. "Go fetch people: get Britain a better future."

The dog parade — which drew pooches and people from far beyond the capital -- took place two weeks before a larger pro-referendum rally planned for October 20.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out a new Brexit poll, saying it would betray the result of the 2016 vote and destroy trust in politicians.

But politicians from all parties have joined a growing movement for Britons to have another say on the issue.

"I do think we've got momentum," Alastair Campbell, a former Labour government spokesman and people's vote campaigner, told AFP alongside his five-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Skye.

"In a campaign, use whatever you can that helps," he added of Sunday's pet prelude. "Today is showing that this country just isn't uniting around any vision for Brexit and it's one way of fighting."

Paws for thought

After Brexit, Britain may have to leave the EU's pet passport scheme, which allows registered pets to travel to member states freely with their owners.

As a result of the change, dog owners are likely to face increased bureaucracy and need more preparation time in order to take their canine companions to the continent.

Some at the march bemoaned that and other predicted effects -- such as difficulty importing pet food and a decrease in the number of vets in Britain.

"It's just one of the many aspects that people have taken for granted... and now won't be there," marketing consultant Anthony Robinson, 48, of London, said of the much-loved pet travel scheme.

He attended with Fred, his two-year-old Corgi -- the breed favoured by Queen Elizabeth II.

Thanks to a pet passport, two-year-old retriever Summer was able to travel to Venice and Rome recently, its owner Diana Muvoli told AFP.

"She wants to continue her travels," said Muvoli, whose husband Umberto is Italian and regularly visits family there.

"We're concerned for all of us," he added.

'Brexit's barking mad'

At least 1,000 people took part in the march, some sporting fancy dress and painted dog faces, after assembling with their furry companions near Trafalgar Square.

"It's nice to highlight a serious point in such a fun way -- everybody loves dogs," said German university lecturer Flora Renz, 30.&nbsp;

She has lived in Britain for a decade and turned out with Billy, a three-year-old beagle draped in an EU flag.

Others were decked out in signs -- "Brexit's barking mad" -- while marchers carried similarly themed placards, including "Brexit, it's a dog's dinner".&nbsp;

"We were misinformed first time around and if there were a second referendum... it would go very differently," said personal trainer Mike Brooke, 37, of London.

His giant three-year-old Leonberger, Odin, sported a "bears against Brexit" sign on his back.

The atmosphere was light-hearted, with urinals for the dogs plastered with images of ardent Brexiteers like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage drawing laughs.

"They're peeing on command on them," said delighted organiser Daniel Elkan. "People have got really into it. They might not have marched before but came today because their dogs have led them."

With tails wagging and barks reverberating, the crowd pawed its way through London's government district, before standing -- or sitting in many canine cases -- for speeches in Parliament Square.

Organisers later handed a petition to May's Downing Street office "signed by dogs and owners".

"It's very British," said Dominic Dyer, an animal welfare campaigner. "Nowhere else in the world would people bring their dogs to a protest."

Huskies, Chihuahuas, boxers and beagles -- and even a lumbering Leonberger -- joined a "Wooferendum march" in central London on Sunday as their pro-European owners called for a new people's vote on Brexit.

Huskies, Chihuahuas, boxers and beagles -- and even a lumbering Leonberger -- joined a "Wooferendum march" in central London on Sunday as their pro-European owners called for a new people's vote on Brexit. The gathering commanded politicians, actors and activists, accompanied by hundreds of four-legged friends, all united in their opposition to Britain's departure from the EU next March. "We will not roll over... it's time for the Wooferendum," said Labour MP Stella Creasy, a self-confessed cat -- not dog -- owner, in a pun-laden speech. "Go fetch people: get Britain a better future." The dog parade — which drew pooches and people from far beyond the capital -- took place two weeks before a larger pro-referendum rally planned for October 20. British Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out a new Brexit poll, saying it would betray the result of the 2016 vote and destroy trust in politicians. But politicians from all parties have joined a growing movement for Britons to have another say on the issue. "I do think we've got momentum," Alastair Campbell, a former Labour government spokesman and people's vote campaigner, told AFP alongside his five-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Skye. "In a campaign, use whatever you can that helps," he added of Sunday's pet prelude. "Today is showing that this country just isn't uniting around any vision for Brexit and it's one way of fighting." Paws for thought After Brexit, Britain may have to leave the EU's pet passport scheme, which allows registered pets to travel to member states freely with their owners. As a result of the change, dog owners are likely to face increased bureaucracy and need more preparation time in order to take their canine companions to the continent. Some at the march bemoaned that and other predicted effects -- such as difficulty importing pet food and a decrease in the number of vets in Britain. "It's just one of the many aspects that people have taken for granted... and now won't be there," marketing consultant Anthony Robinson, 48, of London, said of the much-loved pet travel scheme. He attended with Fred, his two-year-old Corgi -- the breed favoured by Queen Elizabeth II. Thanks to a pet passport, two-year-old retriever Summer was able to travel to Venice and Rome recently, its owner Diana Muvoli told AFP. "She wants to continue her travels," said Muvoli, whose husband Umberto is Italian and regularly visits family there. "We're concerned for all of us," he added. 'Brexit's barking mad' At least 1,000 people took part in the march, some sporting fancy dress and painted dog faces, after assembling with their furry companions near Trafalgar Square. "It's nice to highlight a serious point in such a fun way -- everybody loves dogs," said German university lecturer Flora Renz, 30. She has lived in Britain for a decade and turned out with Billy, a three-year-old beagle draped in an EU flag. Others were decked out in signs -- "Brexit's barking mad" -- while marchers carried similarly themed placards, including "Brexit, it's a dog's dinner". "We were misinformed first time around and if there were a second referendum... it would go very differently," said personal trainer Mike Brooke, 37, of London. His giant three-year-old Leonberger, Odin, sported a "bears against Brexit" sign on his back. The atmosphere was light-hearted, with urinals for the dogs plastered with images of ardent Brexiteers like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage drawing laughs. "They're peeing on command on them," said delighted organiser Daniel Elkan. "People have got really into it. They might not have marched before but came today because their dogs have led them." With tails wagging and barks reverberating, the crowd pawed its way through London's government district, before standing -- or sitting in many canine cases -- for speeches in Parliament Square. Organisers later handed a petition to May's Downing Street office "signed by dogs and owners". "It's very British," said Dominic Dyer, an animal welfare campaigner. "Nowhere else in the world would people bring their dogs to a protest."

Hundreds of dogs hound May for 'Wooferendum' on Brexit

The European Union warned Mynamar on Friday it could lose trade privileges over its "blatant violation of human rights", as the international backlash over the Rohingya crisis grows.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said a fact-finding mission would arrive in Myanmar soon to assess whether the highly preferential tariff arrangement Myanmar enjoys, known as "everything but arms" (EBA), should be withdrawn.

"We can not exclude this outcome and of course the reason is the blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar," Malmstrom told reporters at a meeting of EU trade ministers in Innsbruck, Austria.

"Our trade policy is values-based. These are not just words. We have to act when there are severe violations."

The EBA deal, giving duty-free and tariff-free access to the EU market for all products except weapons and ammunition, was reinstated for Myanmar in 2013 to support political reforms as it moved towards democracy after decades of military rule.

But Western powers and the UN have accused Myanmar's military of waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims, who are denied citizenship rights.

More than 700,000 members of the minority group took refuge in Bangladesh, fearful of returning to mainly Buddhist majority Myanmar despite a repatriation deal between the two countries.

Malmstrom also announced the EU was taking steps to end "everything but arms" for Cambodia, where July's elections, which returned strongman Hun Sen to power, were widely criticised internationally as undemocratic.

"On Cambodia we are even one step further because we had a high level mission there this summer and there were the elections marked by harassment and intimidation and everything but fair elections," she said.

"So I have notified Cambodia today that we will launch the procedure for withdrawal of EBA."

The European Union warned Mynamar on Friday it could lose trade privileges over its "blatant violation of human rights", as the international backlash over the Rohingya crisis grows.

The European Union warned Mynamar on Friday it could lose trade privileges over its "blatant violation of human rights", as the international backlash over the Rohingya crisis grows. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said a fact-finding mission would arrive in Myanmar soon to assess whether the highly preferential tariff arrangement Myanmar enjoys, known as "everything but arms" (EBA), should be withdrawn. "We can not exclude this outcome and of course the reason is the blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar," Malmstrom told reporters at a meeting of EU trade ministers in Innsbruck, Austria. "Our trade policy is values-based. These are not just words. We have to act when there are severe violations." The EBA deal, giving duty-free and tariff-free access to the EU market for all products except weapons and ammunition, was reinstated for Myanmar in 2013 to support political reforms as it moved towards democracy after decades of military rule. But Western powers and the UN have accused Myanmar's military of waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims, who are denied citizenship rights. More than 700,000 members of the minority group took refuge in Bangladesh, fearful of returning to mainly Buddhist majority Myanmar despite a repatriation deal between the two countries. Malmstrom also announced the EU was taking steps to end "everything but arms" for Cambodia, where July's elections, which returned strongman Hun Sen to power, were widely criticised internationally as undemocratic. "On Cambodia we are even one step further because we had a high level mission there this summer and there were the elections marked by harassment and intimidation and everything but fair elections," she said. "So I have notified Cambodia today that we will launch the procedure for withdrawal of EBA."

Myanmar may lose trade privileges over Rohingya abuse: EU

Four Turkish soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack caused by an improvised explosive device in southeastern Turkey blamed on "terrorists", the provincial governor said.

Another five soldiers were injured in the explosion as their military vehicle was passing through the Gercus district of Batman province, the governorate said in a statement.

It blamed the attack on "terrorists" and said a wide operation had been launched to capture the culprits.&nbsp;

Although the governor's office did not explicitly blame the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the state has been battling PKK fighters in the southeast region after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in 2015.

The PKK has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984 that has claimed some 40,000 lives.&nbsp;

It is banned as a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and the European Union.

Four Turkish soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack caused by an improvised explosive device in southeastern Turkey blamed on "terrorists", the provincial governor said.

Four Turkish soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack caused by an improvised explosive device in southeastern Turkey blamed on "terrorists", the provincial governor said. Another five soldiers were injured in the explosion as their military vehicle was passing through the Gercus district of Batman province, the governorate said in a statement. It blamed the attack on "terrorists" and said a wide operation had been launched to capture the culprits. Although the governor's office did not explicitly blame the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the state has been battling PKK fighters in the southeast region after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in 2015. The PKK has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984 that has claimed some 40,000 lives. It is banned as a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and the European Union.

Four Turkish soldiers killed in attack in southeast

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek Wednesday to rally her splintered party behind her with just six months to go until Britain leaves the European Union and negotiations in a state of disarray.

Her address at the ruling Conservative Party's annual gathering comes with May buffeted from all directions and Europeans increasingly anxious that the two sides are heading for a messy divorce.

The potentially calamitous impact a no-deal Brexit would have on trade prompted France's budget minister to admit on Tuesday that Paris was preparing "for the worst".

But May's immediate concerns will be to regain the confidence of her party and present a semblance of a united front in crucial negotiations with Brussels over the next two weeks.

"I passionately believe that our best days lie ahead of us and that our future is full of promise," May said in pre-released extracts of her speech.

Irish headache&nbsp;

Eurosceptic MPs led by former foreign minister Boris Johnson have held a string of packed fringe meetings to argue against May's proposal for Britain to follow EU trade rules on goods after it leaves.

Johnson and others say such a close partnership would still see Britain follow EU rules and ignore the wishes of voters who backed the Brexit referendum in 2016.

The EU instead argues that May is asking for too much -- "cherry-picking" the benefits a union brings to trade while still leaving the bloc.

May argues her proposal is the only way to protect jobs and cross-border trade while also avoiding physical checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland.

She has however promised new proposals on a plan B -- a backstop -- to keep the frontier open if and until the new trade deal could be agreed with the EU.

Speculation is growing that London may accept some checks on goods passing between British-ruled Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain.

These are meant to avoid them on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland itself -- something all sides want to avoid.

But Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Tuesday appeared to reject the idea outright.

"NO border in the Irish Sea will ever be acceptable to unionists throughout the UK... regulatory or otherwise," DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted after meeting May on Tuesday.

May's party depends on Foster's small party for its majority in the House of Commons. MPs must approve any final Brexit deal.

A rebellion by the DUP -- or indeed by even a small number of Conservative MPs -- could be enough to kill any arrangement May reaches with the EU.

Foster seemed to leave some room for compromise by telling the BBC on Wednesday that she did not want to vote against May's government.

"What is important is to make sure that whatever is agreed doesn't damage Northern Ireland in terms of its economy," Foster said.

May's plan 'dangerous'

May's hold on power has been fragile since last year's disastrous snap election when the Conservatives lost their Commons majority.

Barely a month has gone by when there is not speculation of a plot against her, much of it focused around Johnson, a leading Brexit campaigner and former mayor of London.

He told a 1,500-strong crowd on Tuesday that May's trade plan was "dangerous", saying it undermined the hopes of Brexit voters.

Johnson's speech also ranged from health to housing and crime, in what was widely viewed as a pitch for his party's leadership.

But May has surprised many observers by surviving this far, and many delegates at the conference -- whatever their feelings on Brexit -- are wary of a change at the top now.

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek Wednesday to rally her splintered party behind her with just six months to go until Britain leaves the European Union and negotiations in a state of disarray.

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek Wednesday to rally her splintered party behind her with just six months to go until Britain leaves the European Union and negotiations in a state of disarray. Her address at the ruling Conservative Party's annual gathering comes with May buffeted from all directions and Europeans increasingly anxious that the two sides are heading for a messy divorce. The potentially calamitous impact a no-deal Brexit would have on trade prompted France's budget minister to admit on Tuesday that Paris was preparing "for the worst". But May's immediate concerns will be to regain the confidence of her party and present a semblance of a united front in crucial negotiations with Brussels over the next two weeks. "I passionately believe that our best days lie ahead of us and that our future is full of promise," May said in pre-released extracts of her speech. Irish headache Eurosceptic MPs led by former foreign minister Boris Johnson have held a string of packed fringe meetings to argue against May's proposal for Britain to follow EU trade rules on goods after it leaves. Johnson and others say such a close partnership would still see Britain follow EU rules and ignore the wishes of voters who backed the Brexit referendum in 2016. The EU instead argues that May is asking for too much -- "cherry-picking" the benefits a union brings to trade while still leaving the bloc. May argues her proposal is the only way to protect jobs and cross-border trade while also avoiding physical checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland. She has however promised new proposals on a plan B -- a backstop -- to keep the frontier open if and until the new trade deal could be agreed with the EU. Speculation is growing that London may accept some checks on goods passing between British-ruled Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain. These are meant to avoid them on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland itself -- something all sides want to avoid. But Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Tuesday appeared to reject the idea outright. "NO border in the Irish Sea will ever be acceptable to unionists throughout the UK... regulatory or otherwise," DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted after meeting May on Tuesday. May's party depends on Foster's small party for its majority in the House of Commons. MPs must approve any final Brexit deal. A rebellion by the DUP -- or indeed by even a small number of Conservative MPs -- could be enough to kill any arrangement May reaches with the EU. Foster seemed to leave some room for compromise by telling the BBC on Wednesday that she did not want to vote against May's government. "What is important is to make sure that whatever is agreed doesn't damage Northern Ireland in terms of its economy," Foster said. May's plan 'dangerous' May's hold on power has been fragile since last year's disastrous snap election when the Conservatives lost their Commons majority. Barely a month has gone by when there is not speculation of a plot against her, much of it focused around Johnson, a leading Brexit campaigner and former mayor of London. He told a 1,500-strong crowd on Tuesday that May's trade plan was "dangerous", saying it undermined the hopes of Brexit voters. Johnson's speech also ranged from health to housing and crime, in what was widely viewed as a pitch for his party's leadership. But May has surprised many observers by surviving this far, and many delegates at the conference -- whatever their feelings on Brexit -- are wary of a change at the top now.

UK's May seeks to rally party as Brexit pressures mount

Britain will end preferential access for European Union workers after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to attract high-skilled immigrants wherever they were from.

In an announcement at her Conservative party conference, May said she would publish plans for a single system for EU and non-EU countries later this year, ahead of a bill to be published in 2019.

Immigration was a key issue in the Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 vote to leave the bloc.

May said the EU's free movement of people will end with Brexit and "for the first time in decades, it will be this country that controls and chooses who we want to come here".

"It will be a skills-based system where it is workers' skills that matter, not where they come from," she said in a statement.

"It will be a system that looks across the globe and attracts the people with the skills we need."

She added: "For too long people have felt they have been ignored on immigration and that politicians have not taken their concerns seriously enough.

"The new skills-based system will make sure low skilled immigration is brought down and set the UK on the path to reduce immigration to sustainable levels, as we promised.&nbsp;

"At the same time we are training up British people for the skilled jobs of the future."

The announcement follows a government-commissioned report that last month recommended a level playing field for people coming from overseas but restrictions on low-skilled workers.

May said that those wanting to live and work in Britain for the long term would need to earn a minimum salary, and would only be able to bring their family if sponsored by their future employers.

However, she conceded that immigration policy could be affected by Britain's future trade deals.

The EU may seek to negotiate continued preferential treatment in return for Britain's access to its single market, while other countries could also seek visa waivers as part of their own trade agreements.

"The ability of people from trading partners to deliver services and student exchange programmes will form part of future trade agreements," the prime minister said.

The government has already promised to protect the rights of more than three million EU citizens currently living in Britain after Brexit, even if there is no divorce deal.

Britain will end preferential access for European Union workers after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to attract high-skilled immigrants wherever they were from.

Britain will end preferential access for European Union workers after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to attract high-skilled immigrants wherever they were from. In an announcement at her Conservative party conference, May said she would publish plans for a single system for EU and non-EU countries later this year, ahead of a bill to be published in 2019. Immigration was a key issue in the Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 vote to leave the bloc. May said the EU's free movement of people will end with Brexit and "for the first time in decades, it will be this country that controls and chooses who we want to come here". "It will be a skills-based system where it is workers' skills that matter, not where they come from," she said in a statement. "It will be a system that looks across the globe and attracts the people with the skills we need." She added: "For too long people have felt they have been ignored on immigration and that politicians have not taken their concerns seriously enough. "The new skills-based system will make sure low skilled immigration is brought down and set the UK on the path to reduce immigration to sustainable levels, as we promised. "At the same time we are training up British people for the skilled jobs of the future." The announcement follows a government-commissioned report that last month recommended a level playing field for people coming from overseas but restrictions on low-skilled workers. May said that those wanting to live and work in Britain for the long term would need to earn a minimum salary, and would only be able to bring their family if sponsored by their future employers. However, she conceded that immigration policy could be affected by Britain's future trade deals. The EU may seek to negotiate continued preferential treatment in return for Britain's access to its single market, while other countries could also seek visa waivers as part of their own trade agreements. "The ability of people from trading partners to deliver services and student exchange programmes will form part of future trade agreements," the prime minister said. The government has already promised to protect the rights of more than three million EU citizens currently living in Britain after Brexit, even if there is no divorce deal.

Britain will stop favouring EU workers after Brexit: PM Theresa May

Macedonian voters on Sunday supported a plan to rename the country aimed at ending a decades-long spat with Greece and unlocking a path to NATO and EU membership, although the referendum was marred by low turnout.

With ballots from 93 per cent of polling stations counted, 91.3 per cent of votes favoured the name changing to North Macedonia, compared to 5.7 per cent opposed, according to the electoral commission's official count.

However, only a third of the 1.8 million-strong electorate voted.

Greece reacted to the result with the foreign ministry saying it "remains committed" to its June agreement with Skopje under which Athens would drop its objections to Macedonia joining the EU and NATO in return for a change of name.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed his support for his Macedonian counterpart in a telephone call in which he hailed the "determination and courage" of Zoran Zaev to "complete the implementation of this agreement", a government source told AFP.

The non-binding referendum on renaming Macedonia needs to be ratified in parliament by a two-thirds majority and also given the stamp of approval by the Greek parliament.

Zaev and his coalition partners from the ethnic Albanian minority will need at least a dozen MPs from the opposition to back the move.

Lack of enthusiasm&nbsp;

"MPs now have an obligation to make Macedonia a better place for all of us," Zaev told reporters late on Sunday.

But the rightwing opposition VMRO-DPMNE party said the low turnout made the referendum "deeply unsuccessful" with party leader Hristijan Mickoski telling reporters the "government lost its legitimacy".

However, the party that ruled Macedonia for a decade until 2017 was split during the referendum campaign. Mickoski did not vote, but several MPs took part in the polls, including party's vice-president Mitko Janchev.

Parliamentary speaker Talat Xhaferi, an ethnic Albanian who supports the agreement, said he was unable to vote.

"I was not able to exercise my democratic right because my name was not on the electoral list, I hope it was an isolated case," Xhaferi said, according to Macedonian media reports.

The European Union urged all sides to respect the result of the referendum.

"I now expect all political leaders to respect this decision and take it forward with utmost responsibility and unity across party lines," EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a statement.

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter the result was a "historic opportunity", adding: "NATO's door is open."

Zaev said that if he failed to obtain the required majority in parliament to back the name deal, he would call early elections, two years after the last ones.

The vote is an emotional moment for a country that has struggled for recognition of its name since 1991, when the former Yugoslav republic declared independence.

At the time, Athens kicked up a major fuss, accusing Skopje of stealing the name of its own northern province, which is also called Macedonia.

The dispute dives deep into history with both countries vying to lay claim to Alexander the Great's ancient empire of Macedon, which spanned their territories.

Zaev had billed the referendum as a painful but "historic" opportunity to break a 27-year-old stalemate.

The June deal, however, was openly opposed by Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition and had supported calls for a boycott of the referendum.&nbsp;

Few Macedonians are enthused about the new name, saying they have been unfairly bullied by Greece.

"I am not happy and I do not know anyone who likes this deal," said 55-year old Danica Taneska, who voted "no".

But a desire to anchor their future to the West -- and the economic prosperity that it could bring -- has been a driving force behind the "yes" vote in one of Europe's poorest nations.

Greece watching closely

The referendum is not binding, but a "yes" majority gives parliament a political mandate to change the constitution.

Europe and the US have campaigned hard for the deal, with many leaders passing through Skopje this month to urge Macedonians to seize the "historic" opportunity.

NATO has already issued an invite -- on hold until the deal passes -- while EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next year.

The West is keen to have another foothold in the Western Balkans, a region where Russia, which is opposed to NATO expansion, has historically had influence.

At home, those in favour of the deal say a desire for an EU future is helping bind ethnic Macedonians with the Albanian minority, who are broadly pro-West.

While Macedonia avoided the full-scale inter-ethnic wars that rippled across the region during the collapse of Yugoslavia, it was roiled by an Albanian insurgency in 2001 that left more than 100 dead.

A peace deal was reached later that year granting Albanians more political rights, but tensions have remained.

Macedonian voters on Sunday supported a plan to rename the country aimed at ending a decades-long spat with Greece and unlocking a path to NATO and EU membership, although the referendum was marred by low turnout.

Macedonian voters on Sunday supported a plan to rename the country aimed at ending a decades-long spat with Greece and unlocking a path to NATO and EU membership, although the referendum was marred by low turnout. With ballots from 93 per cent of polling stations counted, 91.3 per cent of votes favoured the name changing to North Macedonia, compared to 5.7 per cent opposed, according to the electoral commission's official count. However, only a third of the 1.8 million-strong electorate voted. Greece reacted to the result with the foreign ministry saying it "remains committed" to its June agreement with Skopje under which Athens would drop its objections to Macedonia joining the EU and NATO in return for a change of name. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed his support for his Macedonian counterpart in a telephone call in which he hailed the "determination and courage" of Zoran Zaev to "complete the implementation of this agreement", a government source told AFP. The non-binding referendum on renaming Macedonia needs to be ratified in parliament by a two-thirds majority and also given the stamp of approval by the Greek parliament. Zaev and his coalition partners from the ethnic Albanian minority will need at least a dozen MPs from the opposition to back the move. Lack of enthusiasm "MPs now have an obligation to make Macedonia a better place for all of us," Zaev told reporters late on Sunday. But the rightwing opposition VMRO-DPMNE party said the low turnout made the referendum "deeply unsuccessful" with party leader Hristijan Mickoski telling reporters the "government lost its legitimacy". However, the party that ruled Macedonia for a decade until 2017 was split during the referendum campaign. Mickoski did not vote, but several MPs took part in the polls, including party's vice-president Mitko Janchev. Parliamentary speaker Talat Xhaferi, an ethnic Albanian who supports the agreement, said he was unable to vote. "I was not able to exercise my democratic right because my name was not on the electoral list, I hope it was an isolated case," Xhaferi said, according to Macedonian media reports. The European Union urged all sides to respect the result of the referendum. "I now expect all political leaders to respect this decision and take it forward with utmost responsibility and unity across party lines," EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a statement. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter the result was a "historic opportunity", adding: "NATO's door is open." Zaev said that if he failed to obtain the required majority in parliament to back the name deal, he would call early elections, two years after the last ones. The vote is an emotional moment for a country that has struggled for recognition of its name since 1991, when the former Yugoslav republic declared independence. At the time, Athens kicked up a major fuss, accusing Skopje of stealing the name of its own northern province, which is also called Macedonia. The dispute dives deep into history with both countries vying to lay claim to Alexander the Great's ancient empire of Macedon, which spanned their territories. Zaev had billed the referendum as a painful but "historic" opportunity to break a 27-year-old stalemate. The June deal, however, was openly opposed by Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition and had supported calls for a boycott of the referendum. Few Macedonians are enthused about the new name, saying they have been unfairly bullied by Greece. "I am not happy and I do not know anyone who likes this deal," said 55-year old Danica Taneska, who voted "no". But a desire to anchor their future to the West -- and the economic prosperity that it could bring -- has been a driving force behind the "yes" vote in one of Europe's poorest nations. Greece watching closely The referendum is not binding, but a "yes" majority gives parliament a political mandate to change the constitution. Europe and the US have campaigned hard for the deal, with many leaders passing through Skopje this month to urge Macedonians to seize the "historic" opportunity. NATO has already issued an invite -- on hold until the deal passes -- while EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next year. The West is keen to have another foothold in the Western Balkans, a region where Russia, which is opposed to NATO expansion, has historically had influence. At home, those in favour of the deal say a desire for an EU future is helping bind ethnic Macedonians with the Albanian minority, who are broadly pro-West. While Macedonia avoided the full-scale inter-ethnic wars that rippled across the region during the collapse of Yugoslavia, it was roiled by an Albanian insurgency in 2001 that left more than 100 dead. A peace deal was reached later that year granting Albanians more political rights, but tensions have remained.

Macedonian referendum backs new name to end Greek row

Britain's Brexit secretary will warn the European Union on Monday that his government's willingness to compromise in divorce talks is "not without limits".

In a speech to his Conservative party conference in Birmingham, central England, Dominic Raab will repeat London's threat to walk away if it cannot get a deal it wants.

"My approach to Brexit is pragmatic, not dogmatic," he will say, according to extracts released by the party.&nbsp;

"But our willingness to compromise is not without limits. We are leaving the European Union in fact, not just in name."

EU leaders have rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's plan for close post-Brexit trade ties, and demanded she rework the ideas before a summit next month.

Both sides are still hoping to reach a deal later this year, ahead of Brexit in March.

Raab said the British plan "manages the risks of Brexit" and "grasps the opportunities", while keeping open the border with Ireland.

"If an attempt is made to lock us in via the back door of the European Economic Area and Customs Union... or if the only offer from the EU threatens the integrity of our union, then we will be left with no choice but to leave without a deal," he will say.

May told the BBC on Sunday that she wanted to hear more detail about the EU objections.

"My mood is to listen to what the EU have to say about their concerns and to sit down and talk them through with them," she said.

Britain's Brexit secretary will warn the European Union on Monday that his government's willingness to compromise in divorce talks is "not without limits". In a speech to his Conservative party conference in Birmingham, central England, Dominic Raab will repeat London's threat to walk away if it cannot get a deal it wants.

Britain's Brexit secretary will warn the European Union on Monday that his government's willingness to compromise in divorce talks is "not without limits". In a speech to his Conservative party conference in Birmingham, central England, Dominic Raab will repeat London's threat to walk away if it cannot get a deal it wants. "My approach to Brexit is pragmatic, not dogmatic," he will say, according to extracts released by the party. "But our willingness to compromise is not without limits. We are leaving the European Union in fact, not just in name." EU leaders have rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's plan for close post-Brexit trade ties, and demanded she rework the ideas before a summit next month. Both sides are still hoping to reach a deal later this year, ahead of Brexit in March. Raab said the British plan "manages the risks of Brexit" and "grasps the opportunities", while keeping open the border with Ireland. "If an attempt is made to lock us in via the back door of the European Economic Area and Customs Union... or if the only offer from the EU threatens the integrity of our union, then we will be left with no choice but to leave without a deal," he will say. May told the BBC on Sunday that she wanted to hear more detail about the EU objections. "My mood is to listen to what the EU have to say about their concerns and to sit down and talk them through with them," she said.

UK warns of limits to Brexit compromises

Voters across the Balkan state of Macedonia will decide Sunday whether to re-name their country North Macedonia, an emotional vote that could end a bitter row with Greece and unlock a path to NATO and the EU.

It is a loaded question for many in the nation of around 2.1 million, which has tussled with Greece for 27 years over its name and history.

Athens objects to its northern neighbour's name because it has its own province called Macedonia.

It accuses Skopje of encroaching on its territory and cultural heritage.

In protest Greece has used its veto to thwart Macedonia's progress in NATO and EU accession talks.

But in June the two neighbours reached a compromise: the Republic of North Macedonia.

Now Macedonians are being called on to approve the name, despite a widespread feeling that they have been pushed around by Greece.

'Only chance'

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is selling the name-change as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the poor country to move past the row and integrate with the West.

He has the backing of a host of European and US leaders who have trotted through Skopje this month to shore up support.

"You know well that a better deal cannot be made," Zaev told a crowd this week in one of his final campaign events.

Some Macedonians say they are willing to vote "yes" in the hope that NATO and EU membership will inject life into a flat economy ravaged by emigration.

"We won't ever have a chance for a better future for Macedonia," said Bogdana Zabrcanec, a resident of the central city of Prilep who came to listen to Zaev speak this week.

But even if voters approve the name change, the deal will still need to be ratified in parliament, where a right-wing opposition threatens to block it.

Zaev is hoping a strong majority for "yes" will make it difficult for the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party to resist the public's will.

But turnout figures could prove contentious.&nbsp;

If less than half of the 1.8 million registered voters cast ballots, detractors may attack the referendum's credibility.

That turnout figure could be hard to reach in a country where a quarter of the population is estimated to have emigrated abroad.

So far, the boycott movement has been mostly limited to online activities. A planned rally on Thursday night was cancelled, with only several dozen people showing up.

The opposition's leader, Hristijan Mickoski, said this week that Macedonians should "listen to their heart" when they wake up on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, president Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition, told the UN assembly this week that he personally would not vote, describing the deal as "historical suicide".

'Long process'

A failure to pass the referendum could crush a rare diplomatic breakthrough in the Western Balkans, a region riven by complex disagreements between neighbours.

The name deal "was a really positive story... It's been held as a sign that look, longstanding disputes can be solved," James Ker-Lindsay, a Balkans specialist at the London School of Economics.

But "this is just the next phase in what is proving to be quite a long protracted process," he added, explaining that the parliament vote will be the next hurdle.

While NATO's invite is waiting on the table, the road to EU membership is less sure.

By EU standards, Macedonia still has a lot of work to do to tackle graft and the rule of law.

And the appetite for EU enlargement is shrinking among some members of the bloc, who voted to postpone Macedonia's accession talks to next year despite the deal.

Polling stations will be open from 0500 to 1700 GMT with 500 foreign observers monitoring, according to Telma TV channel.

Voters across the Balkan state of Macedonia will decide Sunday whether to re-name their country North Macedonia, an emotional vote that could end a bitter row with Greece and unlock a path to NATO and the EU.

Voters across the Balkan state of Macedonia will decide Sunday whether to re-name their country North Macedonia, an emotional vote that could end a bitter row with Greece and unlock a path to NATO and the EU. It is a loaded question for many in the nation of around 2.1 million, which has tussled with Greece for 27 years over its name and history. Athens objects to its northern neighbour's name because it has its own province called Macedonia. It accuses Skopje of encroaching on its territory and cultural heritage. In protest Greece has used its veto to thwart Macedonia's progress in NATO and EU accession talks. But in June the two neighbours reached a compromise: the Republic of North Macedonia. Now Macedonians are being called on to approve the name, despite a widespread feeling that they have been pushed around by Greece. 'Only chance' Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is selling the name-change as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the poor country to move past the row and integrate with the West. He has the backing of a host of European and US leaders who have trotted through Skopje this month to shore up support. "You know well that a better deal cannot be made," Zaev told a crowd this week in one of his final campaign events. Some Macedonians say they are willing to vote "yes" in the hope that NATO and EU membership will inject life into a flat economy ravaged by emigration. "We won't ever have a chance for a better future for Macedonia," said Bogdana Zabrcanec, a resident of the central city of Prilep who came to listen to Zaev speak this week. But even if voters approve the name change, the deal will still need to be ratified in parliament, where a right-wing opposition threatens to block it. Zaev is hoping a strong majority for "yes" will make it difficult for the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party to resist the public's will. But turnout figures could prove contentious. If less than half of the 1.8 million registered voters cast ballots, detractors may attack the referendum's credibility. That turnout figure could be hard to reach in a country where a quarter of the population is estimated to have emigrated abroad. So far, the boycott movement has been mostly limited to online activities. A planned rally on Thursday night was cancelled, with only several dozen people showing up. The opposition's leader, Hristijan Mickoski, said this week that Macedonians should "listen to their heart" when they wake up on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, president Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition, told the UN assembly this week that he personally would not vote, describing the deal as "historical suicide". 'Long process' A failure to pass the referendum could crush a rare diplomatic breakthrough in the Western Balkans, a region riven by complex disagreements between neighbours. The name deal "was a really positive story... It's been held as a sign that look, longstanding disputes can be solved," James Ker-Lindsay, a Balkans specialist at the London School of Economics. But "this is just the next phase in what is proving to be quite a long protracted process," he added, explaining that the parliament vote will be the next hurdle. While NATO's invite is waiting on the table, the road to EU membership is less sure. By EU standards, Macedonia still has a lot of work to do to tackle graft and the rule of law. And the appetite for EU enlargement is shrinking among some members of the bloc, who voted to postpone Macedonia's accession talks to next year despite the deal. Polling stations will be open from 0500 to 1700 GMT with 500 foreign observers monitoring, according to Telma TV channel.

Macedonia to vote on new name to end Greek row

Britain's Boris Johnson on Friday unveiled his vision for Brexit as he urged Prime Minister Theresa May to pursue a "Super Canada" trade deal, sparking renewed infighting among ruling Conservatives ahead of their annual party conference.

The former foreign secretary, who resigned from the government in July over the issue, described May's current proposals for the future relationship with the EU as a "moral and intellectual humiliation".

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Johnson outlined a six-point alternative plan, that would scrap a backstop agreement struck with the European Union last December on the contentious Irish border.

He argued that adopting technology and making customs checks away from the frontier would prevent a return to a hard border -- a sticking point in negotiations and a key factor in May's proposal.

The ardent Brexiteer called for Britain and the EU instead to negotiate a free trade agreement -- dubbed "Super Canada" -- mirroring the deal the bloc signed with Ottawa in 2016.

It removed the vast majority of customs duties on exports crossing the Atlantic.

He conceded that negotiating such an agreement, which would aim for mutual recognition of standards to keep goods moving and also include services, may require extending any Brexit transition period beyond 2020.&nbsp;

"This is the moment to change the course of the negotiations and (to) do justice to the ambitions and potential of Brexit," Johnson wrote in the 4,500-word article.

"We have the chance to get it right, and I am afraid that future generations will not lightly forgive us if we fail."

His intervention ahead of the Conservative Party conference -- where he will address a fringe event on Tuesday -- prompted immediate Tory division.

"Shame he didn't research the link between agreeing a solution that keeps the Irish border frictionless and the chances of agreeing withdrawal terms," former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan wrote on Twitter. "Or does he just not care?"

In contrast, eurosceptic MP Bernard Jenkin called the plan "powerful" while Brexiteer colleague Nadine Dorries called Johnson "a man with a plan".

The blueprint will increase pressure on embattled leader May as her divided party's gathering starts Sunday under the shadow of Brexit.

She has proposed Britain follow EU rules in trade in goods after Brexit, to protect manufacturing supply lines and avoid the hard border between Northern Ireland, a British province, and EU member Ireland.

The plan, forged in July at May's country retreat Chequers, has faced strong opposition in her Conservative party and criticism in Brussels, but she has repeatedly vowed to stick with it.

Johnson reiterated Friday the proposal was a "democratic disaster" that would "cheat the electorate" and leave Britain "half in, half out" of Europe.

Britain is set to leave the EU next March, with both sides agreeing that a provisional divorce deal, comprising assurances on the Irish border among other things, must be reached by mid-November

Britain's Boris Johnson on Friday unveiled his vision for Brexit as he urged Prime Minister Theresa May to pursue a "Super Canada" trade deal, sparking renewed infighting among ruling Conservatives ahead of their annual party conference.

Britain's Boris Johnson on Friday unveiled his vision for Brexit as he urged Prime Minister Theresa May to pursue a "Super Canada" trade deal, sparking renewed infighting among ruling Conservatives ahead of their annual party conference. The former foreign secretary, who resigned from the government in July over the issue, described May's current proposals for the future relationship with the EU as a "moral and intellectual humiliation". Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Johnson outlined a six-point alternative plan, that would scrap a backstop agreement struck with the European Union last December on the contentious Irish border. He argued that adopting technology and making customs checks away from the frontier would prevent a return to a hard border -- a sticking point in negotiations and a key factor in May's proposal. The ardent Brexiteer called for Britain and the EU instead to negotiate a free trade agreement -- dubbed "Super Canada" -- mirroring the deal the bloc signed with Ottawa in 2016. It removed the vast majority of customs duties on exports crossing the Atlantic. He conceded that negotiating such an agreement, which would aim for mutual recognition of standards to keep goods moving and also include services, may require extending any Brexit transition period beyond 2020. "This is the moment to change the course of the negotiations and (to) do justice to the ambitions and potential of Brexit," Johnson wrote in the 4,500-word article. "We have the chance to get it right, and I am afraid that future generations will not lightly forgive us if we fail." His intervention ahead of the Conservative Party conference -- where he will address a fringe event on Tuesday -- prompted immediate Tory division. "Shame he didn't research the link between agreeing a solution that keeps the Irish border frictionless and the chances of agreeing withdrawal terms," former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan wrote on Twitter. "Or does he just not care?" In contrast, eurosceptic MP Bernard Jenkin called the plan "powerful" while Brexiteer colleague Nadine Dorries called Johnson "a man with a plan". The blueprint will increase pressure on embattled leader May as her divided party's gathering starts Sunday under the shadow of Brexit. She has proposed Britain follow EU rules in trade in goods after Brexit, to protect manufacturing supply lines and avoid the hard border between Northern Ireland, a British province, and EU member Ireland. The plan, forged in July at May's country retreat Chequers, has faced strong opposition in her Conservative party and criticism in Brussels, but she has repeatedly vowed to stick with it. Johnson reiterated Friday the proposal was a "democratic disaster" that would "cheat the electorate" and leave Britain "half in, half out" of Europe. Britain is set to leave the EU next March, with both sides agreeing that a provisional divorce deal, comprising assurances on the Irish border among other things, must be reached by mid-November

Boris Johnson's Brexit plan prompts fresh Tory division

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Britain had still not expressed a clear position on its post-Brexit relations with the EU, warning that only "six to eight weeks" remained to reach an agreement.

Success in the upcoming negotiations depended "largely on what it is Britain really wants, and on this the discussion has still not been entirely clear", Merkel told a business conference in Berlin.

Merkel reiterated the stance of the remaining 27 EU members that "you can't belong to a single market if you want to stick to just one of its principles but not the other three".

Brussels believes May wants Britain to keep the benefits of free trade on goods with the EU without following its three other core principles, the free movement of people, services and capital over borders.

British Prime Minister Theresa May had hit back Friday at the EU after it roundly rejected her Brexit plan, saying its refusal to compromise was "not acceptable" and warning she was still prepared to walk away from the talks.

May blamed Brussels for the "impasse" just weeks ahead of a deadline to seal a deal -- and six months before Britain leaves the EU in March.

The EU summit in Salzburg had also raised the stakes by putting on ice a special summit planned for November to seal a deal, saying it would only happen if there is progress next month.

Merkel said the November special summit would "probably" take place but warned that "six to eight weeks of intense work lie ahead in which we have to make political decisions".

Progress could be achieved in October, she said, but added that any proposal should "formulate in the most concrete terms possible" what future relations should look like.

Otherwise, warned the chancellor, "the transition period could become too short to reach any kind of reasonable agreement".

May's government faces heightening pressure as it lacks a stable majority in parliament and could face defeat by MPs if and when it brings a final deal with Brussels for a vote.

Critics of May's Brexit proposal have launched a "Save Brexit Campaign" to push for a clean break with the EU.

Polls show the country is still more or less divided on Brexit, although a narrow majority might now support staying in the EU.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Britain had still not expressed a clear position on its post-Brexit relations with the EU, warning that only "six to eight weeks" remained to reach an agreement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Britain had still not expressed a clear position on its post-Brexit relations with the EU, warning that only "six to eight weeks" remained to reach an agreement. Success in the upcoming negotiations depended "largely on what it is Britain really wants, and on this the discussion has still not been entirely clear", Merkel told a business conference in Berlin. Merkel reiterated the stance of the remaining 27 EU members that "you can't belong to a single market if you want to stick to just one of its principles but not the other three". Brussels believes May wants Britain to keep the benefits of free trade on goods with the EU without following its three other core principles, the free movement of people, services and capital over borders. British Prime Minister Theresa May had hit back Friday at the EU after it roundly rejected her Brexit plan, saying its refusal to compromise was "not acceptable" and warning she was still prepared to walk away from the talks. May blamed Brussels for the "impasse" just weeks ahead of a deadline to seal a deal -- and six months before Britain leaves the EU in March. The EU summit in Salzburg had also raised the stakes by putting on ice a special summit planned for November to seal a deal, saying it would only happen if there is progress next month. Merkel said the November special summit would "probably" take place but warned that "six to eight weeks of intense work lie ahead in which we have to make political decisions". Progress could be achieved in October, she said, but added that any proposal should "formulate in the most concrete terms possible" what future relations should look like. Otherwise, warned the chancellor, "the transition period could become too short to reach any kind of reasonable agreement". May's government faces heightening pressure as it lacks a stable majority in parliament and could face defeat by MPs if and when it brings a final deal with Brussels for a vote. Critics of May's Brexit proposal have launched a "Save Brexit Campaign" to push for a clean break with the EU. Polls show the country is still more or less divided on Brexit, although a narrow majority might now support staying in the EU.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says still unclear what Britain wants in Brexit talks

Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet has agreed that EU citizens should not have preferential access to work in Britain compared to people from elsewhere after Brexit, media reports said Tuesday.

Ministers gathering on Monday "unanimously supported a system based on skills rather than nationality", an unnamed source told the BBC, with similar reports in The Times and The Guardian.

Citizens from the other 27 European Union member states are currently free to live and work in Britain under the bloc's freedom of movement rules, but this will end after Brexit.

A government-commissioned report last week recommended that in future, EU and non-EU citizens follow the same immigration rules, with preference given to high-skilled workers.

The report's author, Alan Manning of the Migration Advisory Committee, briefed the cabinet meeting on Monday on his plan.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The cabinet agreed that, once free movement is brought to an end, the government will be able to introduce a new system which works in the best interests of the UK, including by helping to boost productivity."

May is now expected to make an announcement on future immigration rules at her Conservative party's conference next week, before likely introducing proposals later this year.

However, any post-Brexit immigration policy could be affected by Britain's future trade deals.

The EU may well seek to negotiate continued preferential treatment in return for access to its single market, while other countries could also seek visa waivers in return for trade deals.

May promised last week that even if Brexit negotiations with the EU break down, the rights of Europeans currently living in Britain "will be protected".

Her spokesman said there would be formal proposals published "shortly".

Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet has agreed that EU citizens should not have preferential access to work in Britain compared to people from elsewhere after Brexit, media reports said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet has agreed that EU citizens should not have preferential access to work in Britain compared to people from elsewhere after Brexit, media reports said Tuesday. Ministers gathering on Monday "unanimously supported a system based on skills rather than nationality", an unnamed source told the BBC, with similar reports in The Times and The Guardian. Citizens from the other 27 European Union member states are currently free to live and work in Britain under the bloc's freedom of movement rules, but this will end after Brexit. A government-commissioned report last week recommended that in future, EU and non-EU citizens follow the same immigration rules, with preference given to high-skilled workers. The report's author, Alan Manning of the Migration Advisory Committee, briefed the cabinet meeting on Monday on his plan. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The cabinet agreed that, once free movement is brought to an end, the government will be able to introduce a new system which works in the best interests of the UK, including by helping to boost productivity." May is now expected to make an announcement on future immigration rules at her Conservative party's conference next week, before likely introducing proposals later this year. However, any post-Brexit immigration policy could be affected by Britain's future trade deals. The EU may well seek to negotiate continued preferential treatment in return for access to its single market, while other countries could also seek visa waivers in return for trade deals. May promised last week that even if Brexit negotiations with the EU break down, the rights of Europeans currently living in Britain "will be protected". Her spokesman said there would be formal proposals published "shortly".

UK government 'agrees not to favour EU workers after Brexit'

The EU on Monday gave Britain two months to recover 2.7 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in lost customs duties or risk referral to the EU's top court after London allegedly ignored a scam by Chinese importers.

The demand, part of a so-called infringement action launched by Brussels, threatens to further inflame tensions amid fraught Brexit negotiations just days after an EU summit in Austria ended in acrimony.

"The United Kingdom now has two months to act; otherwise the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU," said a statement by the commission, the European Union's executive arm.

The case follows an investigation last year by the EU fraud watchdog that found Britain turned a blind eye to the rampant use of fake invoices and customs claims by Chinese importers for textiles and footwear.

The commission believes that "despite having been informed of the risks of fraud", Britain "failed to take effective action to prevent the fraud" -- a failure which in turn short-changed the EU budget.

The affair is especially ill-timed as Britain's proposal for future trade ties with Europe after Brexit centres on an offer that London handle customs checks on behalf of the EU after the split.

Britain's Brexit proposal was flatly dismissed as "unworkable" by EU Council President Donald Tusk, to the frustration of British Prime Minister Theresa May.

The EU on Monday gave Britain two months to recover 2.7 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in lost customs duties or risk referral to the EU's top court after London allegedly ignored a scam by Chinese importers.

The EU on Monday gave Britain two months to recover 2.7 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in lost customs duties or risk referral to the EU's top court after London allegedly ignored a scam by Chinese importers. The demand, part of a so-called infringement action launched by Brussels, threatens to further inflame tensions amid fraught Brexit negotiations just days after an EU summit in Austria ended in acrimony. "The United Kingdom now has two months to act; otherwise the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU," said a statement by the commission, the European Union's executive arm. The case follows an investigation last year by the EU fraud watchdog that found Britain turned a blind eye to the rampant use of fake invoices and customs claims by Chinese importers for textiles and footwear. The commission believes that "despite having been informed of the risks of fraud", Britain "failed to take effective action to prevent the fraud" -- a failure which in turn short-changed the EU budget. The affair is especially ill-timed as Britain's proposal for future trade ties with Europe after Brexit centres on an offer that London handle customs checks on behalf of the EU after the split. Britain's Brexit proposal was flatly dismissed as "unworkable" by EU Council President Donald Tusk, to the frustration of British Prime Minister Theresa May.

EU gives Britain two months to pay 2.7 billion euros over China fraud

The European Union and India are "fully committed" to moving forward on the proposed free trade agreement and discussions are on between the two sides on the much-delayed pact, according to an EU official.

The negotiations for the pact, officially dubbed as the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), have been held up since May 2013 and have witnessed many hurdles.

"Discussions between European Union and India are going on. Both sides are fully committed to moving this agenda forward and discussions are on," Ambassador of the 28-nation grouping to India Tomasz Kozlowski told PTI when asked about the BTIA talks.

The negotiations for the pact were launched in 2007.

Besides demanding significant duty cuts in automobiles, the EU wants tax reduction on wines, spirits and dairy products, and a strong intellectual property regime.

On the other hand, India is asking it be granted data secure nation status by the EU. The country is among the nations not considered as data secure by the EU.

"The grant of a data secure nation status to India by the EU will provide the country's IT firms enhanced market access to European nations and also improve their business prospects significantly," EAZY ERP Technologies Managing Director Kunal Singhal said.

The two sides have to also iron out differences related to the movement of professionals.

Two-way trade between India and the EU dipped to USD 88.4 billion in 2015-16 from USD 98.5 billion in the previous fiscal.

The European Union and India are "fully committed" to moving forward on the proposed free trade agreement and discussions are on between the two sides on the much-delayed pact, according to an EU official.

The European Union and India are "fully committed" to moving forward on the proposed free trade agreement and discussions are on between the two sides on the much-delayed pact, according to an EU official. The negotiations for the pact, officially dubbed as the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), have been held up since May 2013 and have witnessed many hurdles. "Discussions between European Union and India are going on. Both sides are fully committed to moving this agenda forward and discussions are on," Ambassador of the 28-nation grouping to India Tomasz Kozlowski told PTI when asked about the BTIA talks. The negotiations for the pact were launched in 2007. Besides demanding significant duty cuts in automobiles, the EU wants tax reduction on wines, spirits and dairy products, and a strong intellectual property regime. On the other hand, India is asking it be granted data secure nation status by the EU. The country is among the nations not considered as data secure by the EU. "The grant of a data secure nation status to India by the EU will provide the country's IT firms enhanced market access to European nations and also improve their business prospects significantly," EAZY ERP Technologies Managing Director Kunal Singhal said. The two sides have to also iron out differences related to the movement of professionals. Two-way trade between India and the EU dipped to USD 88.4 billion in 2015-16 from USD 98.5 billion in the previous fiscal.

EU-India "fully committed" to move forward on free trade pact: EU official

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