Tag: Tim Barrow

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Brexit

Letter sent from the UK to the EU

Following the debate and vote in the House of Commons on 19 October, it was necessary for the Prime Minister to send a letter, dictated by Parliament in the recent “Surrender Act” (European Union (Withdrawal) (No.2) Act 2019) fast-tracked through Parliament, to the EU requesting an extension, under Article 50, until 31 January 2020. There was no additional information enclosed, or required, detailing what the extension was actually for.

A letter was sent, as required on 19 October 2019, to the EU Council with a cover letter from Sir Tim Barrow, United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Union

Covering letter :

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840666/Cover letter from Sir Tim Barrow (pdf)

Letter to the EU from UK Parliament:

Note: this letter is identical to the details included in the Surrender Act and as required by law. There was no order demanding that the letter was signed and was sent unsigned.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840665/Letter from UK to EU Council (pdf)

Categories
Brexit

The UK will not nominate a new Commissioner to the EU

On the 23 August 2019, the UK announced that it will not nominate a new Commissioner to the EU as it prepares to leave on 31 October 2019.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-uk-will-not-nominate-a-new-commissioner-to-the-eu

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU Sir Tim Barrow has written to the EU to confirm that the UK will not be nominating a candidate for the 2019-2024 College of Commissioners. This delivers on the commitment that Prime Minister Boris Johnson made to the House of Commons on 25 July.

The Government has been clear that we are leaving the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances. Given that the new Commission will not be taking up office until after we have left (1 November) we will not need a new Commissioner.

The Prime Minister was clear in his statement to the House of Commons that our decision not to appoint a new Commissioner should not prevent the EU from appointing a new Commission. This letter will enable the EU to proceed without a UK nominee.

Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the EU Steve Barclay said:

We are leaving the EU on 31 October. As a departing member state we will not be involved in the new Commission so it would be a distraction to nominate a new Commissioner.

This is part of the UK’s ongoing preparations for Brexit which allows us to focus on our future relationship with the EU while continuing to explore new opportunities with partners across the world.

Background:

  • All Member States have been invited to submit nominations for Commissioners by 26 August 2019.
  • The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons on 25 July that the UK will not nominate a UK commissioner for the new Commission and this is not intended to stop the EU appointing a new Commission.
  • Sir Tim Barrow has written to the Secretary-General of the European Council and the Head of the Transition Team of European Commission President-elect to confirm this.
  • The letter also confirms that the UK is content for the European Council to proceed with the adoption of the list of candidates without a UK candidate.

A copy of the letter from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Tim Barrow, is enclosed:

Bjoern Seibert
Head of Transition Team

European Commission President-elect Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen Secretary-General
Council of the European Union

Dear Mr Seibert, Dear Secretary-General,

I refer to the request for Member States to submit letters of nomination for the College of Commissioners 2019-2024 by 26 August.

As the United Kingdom will be leaving the European Union on 31 October 2019, the Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons on 25 July that we would not nominate a UK Commissioner for the new Commission, and that this was not intended to stop the EU appointing a new Commission.

I am writing formally to confirm that, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s statement, the United Kingdom will not be nominating a candidate for the 2019-2024 College of Commissioners.

Furthermore, I am instructed to confirm that the United Kingdom will not object to the Council, in accordance with Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union and in agreement with the President-elect, adopting the list of the candidates for appointment as members of the Commission and communicating that list to the European Parliament. The United Kingdom remains ready to work constructively with you to ensure that the new College of Commissioners will be appointed in time to take up its mandate on 1 November.

I am copying this letter to Ilze Juhansone, Acting Secretary-General of the European Commission, and Marja Rislakki, Permanent Representative of Finland to the EU, for information.

TIM BARROW

Nomination of a Commissioner 230819 (pdf)

Categories
Brexit

UK Formal Letter accepting the Article 50 Extension (11 April 2019)

The UK formally accepts the extension to the Article 50 period following the EU Council meeting held on April 10 2019 in a letter from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU to the President of the European Council concerning Article 50 extension.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmation-of-uk-government-agreement-to-extend-article-50

11 April 2019

His Excellency Donald Tusk
President of the European Council

I refer to the draft European Council Decision taken in agreement with the United Kingdom extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU, as attached to this letter. I am writing to confirm the agreement of the Government of the United Kingdom to the extension of the period under Article 50(3) and to this decision.

Tim Barrow

Confirmation Letter (copy)

Council Decision (copy)

Categories
Political Declaration Withdrawal Agreement

UK response to Council statement on territorial scope

Letters from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU to the Secretary General of the Council and the Secretary General of the Commission on UK sovereignty over Gibraltar.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-response-to-council-minutes-statement-on-territorial-scope

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU has sent letters to the Secretary General of the Council and the Secretary General of the Commission to recall that the UK has no doubt about the sovereignty of the UK over Gibraltar. In addition, the UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes, nor enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

These letters were sent in response to the letter of 24 November 2018 from the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission to the President of the Government of Spain, and in response to the Statement to the minutes of the European Council (Article 50) meeting on 25 November 2018 on the territorial scope of the future agreements to be concluded between the Union and the United Kingdom. The letters also restates that the UK will negotiate future agreements on behalf of all territories, including Gibraltar, for whose external relations it is responsible.

Letter from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU to the Secretary General of the Commission

Letter from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU to the Secretary General of the Council