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Brexit negotiations are in the “real last chance room”, but a trade deal will be agreed between the UK and Brussels, former EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said.
Delivering an address online to the MacGill Summer School, which is being organized remotely this year, Hogan said he would reach an agreement “because it would be economically unthinkable for the UK to fail to reach an agreement with the European Union.”
He said it would not be the “most ambitious and comprehensive” trade deal, but that he believed there would be no tariffs or quotas, and that there would be a basis for future discussions.
He predicted that there would be concessions to the UK on fisheries, but London’s influence on that issue would be offset by issues like data sharing, financial services and rules of origin, where the EU has “a lot of influence.”
Hogan, who resigned from his post as EU Trade Commissioner in August following controversy surrounding his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway, criticized the UK’s domestic market bill, which according to him it violated the retirement agreement.
“If they want to build trust and goodwill in the process, they must withdraw this legislation for the rest of the negotiations,” he said. “Otherwise, your word will not be accepted.”
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Mr. Hogan said the Government “regrettably. . . It’s been a while for me to improve alternative connectivity ”with the possible loss of the UK land bridge.
Export economies
He also said that EU member states are not coordinating effectively on travel and aviation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that trade would have an important role to play in the economic recovery of all member states, but especially for exporting economies like the Republic.
Calling for lessons to be learned from the pandemic, Mr. Hogan said that “it has become very clear that member states are not coordinating effectively and properly when it comes to certain economic activities, for example aviation and travels.
“This has a very negative impact on people’s lives, but it also has very negative consequences for public and economic health.”
The resumption of travel to the state has been one of the most contentious aspects of the government’s response to Covid, and its policy has come under strong criticism from Ryanair in particular.
Hogan said the EU could play a role in guiding the Covid-19 recovery and ongoing resilience management in various sectors.
“Perhaps it is time to see how we can do more in the EU to tackle a public health problem, but also return economies to full health through more coordination, such as in travel and aviation. This is not happening today and the commission and member states have to do more and redouble their efforts, ”he said. He added that there should be a “meaningful” Ireland-wide strategy for Covid, and that without that measure, “it is virtually impossible to tackle the pandemic effectively on the island of Ireland.”
The former minister and former technical director of Fine Gael praised the recent “unprecedented” budget, which he said “signals to economic operators and investors that we are going to do whatever it takes.” However, he warned that “of course, future generations will have to repay these loans. . . and we have to be aware of that as well ”.
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