Brexit Debate

[SteveH]

The UK is to rejoin the EU's flagship scientific research scheme, Horizon, the government has announced.

UK-based scientists and institutions will be able to apply for money from the ?81bn (?95bn) fund from today.

Associate membership had been agreed as part of the Brexit trade deal when the UK formally left the EU in 2020.

However, the UK has been excluded from the scheme for the past three years because of a disagreement over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66737714

[SteveH]

Brexit: 'Call us' on trade, says German finance minister Christian Lindner

The German finance minister has extended a surprise invite to the UK to take "new steps" on post-Brexit trade relations with the European Union (EU).

In a BBC interview, Christian Lindner said: "If you want to intensify your trade relationship with the EU - call us!"

A government spokesperson said the UK was open to "new opportunities" across the globe.

Mr Lindner also said the German economy and energy supplies remain strong.

He is the leader of the German liberals, part of the ruling coalition led by the centre-left SPD of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the discussion on the margins of the IMF and World Bank's annual meetings in Marrakech, Mr Lindner said that the UK had a "standing invitation" on future talks aimed at reducing trade barriers, or "obstacles in daily business life" that had arisen.

"In the daily life of German corporates, there are new obstacles since Brexit... I don't think [the] United Kingdom is benefiting from Brexit," he told BBC News.

"We really appreciate the United Kingdom and its values, its people... and I would really, really appreciate it if we can intensify [the trade relationship] again," he added.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67105143

One in three newly registered vehicles in the UK is a German export. In total, 950,000 of the 3 million newly registered cars in the UK are German exports (2016). One in five new cars exported from Germany goes to the UK (20% of German exports).

[Ian]

Mr Lindner also said the German economy and energy supplies remain strong.

In fact our inflation rate is the highest and overall wealth is the worst of the developed economies. Yet another factor that we can thank Johnson for.

[SteveH]

Post-Brexit controls on food, plant and animal imports to Britain from the EU have come into force.

Health certificates will now be required on EU goods ranging from cut flowers, to fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables.

Some industry bodies raised concerns the rules could cause delays and push up costs, but others said they would help UK farmers be more competitive.

The government said its border model would "minimise burdens for traders".

The UK left the EU exactly four years ago, but it has taken some time for the government to implement new trade rules - legally required under the Brexit agreement - for goods travelling from the EU to the UK.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68126880