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Well, that’s that… We will (unless there is divine intervention) leave the EU on January 31, no ifs or buts. However, even enthusiasts for the sunlit uplands of Brexit-land must accept that the December 31 date for a final, final trade agreement is extraordinarily tight. It is inevitably going to mean a rather sketchy deal that will leave quite a lot of the detail undone. And how will we (particularly the City) handle relations with our former colleagues in the meantime? After all, the EU won’t simply stop dead until our own new relationship is fully sorted. Indeed, the new Commission is going to plough ahead – on IP and digital rights, on competition and, of course, on all the various reviews that were already on the schedule.
As usual, Graham Bishop – perhaps a tad crestfallen, but still deeply committed to the European idea – is our guide, sorting wheat from chaff, and charting a course through what looks like a legislative and regulatory minefield. This month, he gets back-up from Allie Renison, head of EU and Trade Policy at the Institute of Directors, which she joined in April 2014, having previously been Research Director at Business for Britain. She leads on the IoD’s efforts to represent members’ interests in both Westminster/Whitehall and Brussels, where she is a major voice for UK business.
Many thanks,
Andrew Hilton
Director
CSFI
PS: Two requests: first, we would like to start on time at 8.30. Second, have some sort of photo ID to show to security at the front desk.