Brexit

UK constitutional crisis – what next?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lost his governing majority and wants to go to the British people with a 'People vs Parliament' campaign to give him a new majority, and a mandate to take the UK out of the EU with or without a deal on October 31. Here are the likely options.

The road to Brexit and beyond

The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. But how did it get to this stage? And what happens next? As the negotiations fast approach, familiarise yourself with the all-important dates and events.

INFOGRAPHIC: Who’s behind bars in EU prisons?

Cameron drops big 2016 hint for Brexit referendum date

David Cameron dropped his biggest hint yet today (18 December) that Britain will hold its in/out EU referendum next year.

UKIP must replace Farage with fresh face, says party’s only MP

Britain's anti-EU UK Independence Party needs a fresh face as leader after failing to make inroads in an election for a parliamentary seat earlier this month, its only lawmaker has told the BBC.

Brexit: Cameron and EU agree to disagree until February

David Cameron gave the 27 other EU leaders a 40-minute speech on the case for a UK’s renegotiation of its membership on Thursday night (17 December) – but walked away from the first night of the summit empty-handed.

Difficult dinner ahead for lonely Cameron

David Cameron faces a lonely dinner with his fellow EU leaders tonight, after senior EU diplomats admitted there was no chance of “pulling a rabbit out of the hat” and making progress on the UK’s controversial Brexit demands.

EU law ‘woefully inadequate’ for GM insects, Lords say

Britain should challenge "woefully inadequate" European regulations and launch field trials of genetically modified insects designed to wipe out disease-carrying bugs that harm crops and people, lawmakers said on Thursday (16 December).

Cameron ‘piggy-in-middle’ between UK Eurosceptics and EU leaders

David Cameron arrives in Brussels today (16 December) for a crunch EU ‘Brexit’ summit, caught between Eurosceptics at home who regard his renegotiations as “trivial”, and fellow European leaders, who see at least one of his conditions as currently insurmountable.

Cameron not planning to drop EU welfare demands

British Prime Minister David Cameron's office on Sunday played down reports that he was prepared to drop one of his key demands for reforming Britain's relationship with the European Union after other countries made it clear they would not accept it.

IMF warns of uncertainty around Brexit vote

A referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union would create economic uncertainty, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in a report Friday, adding she hoped the country would remain in the bloc. 

Poland disagrees with UK on ‘Brexit’ welfare restrictions

Some of Britain's demands for EU reform are acceptable, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said on Thursday (10 December), but added there was no agreement on Prime Minister David Cameron's push to curb welfare payments to EU migrants.

Tusk: EU reform deal in sight for Britain, with two exceptions

The man running negotiations with Britain to keep it in the European Union said leaders could seal a deal in February but warned David Cameron that a central demand to restrict free movement and curb social benefits for EU migrants may be asking too much.

EU-UK deal to prevent Brexit expected in February

European Union leaders could clinch a deal with British Prime Minister David Cameron in February to prevent the bloc's second largest economy leaving, European Council President Donald Tusk said yesterday (3 December).

Barnier: The EU is at risk of disintegration

Michel Barnier, former Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, now Special Counsellor for Defence Policy to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said on Wednesday (1 December) that he saw a serious risk of the EU disintegrating.

Britain’s Labour party launches EU ‘in’ campaign

Britain’s opposition Labour Party today (1 December) launched its campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union, saying that the Paris terror attacks showed the need to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with its European partners.

UK to vote on air strikes against ISIS

Britain's Labour Party said yesterday (30 November) its lawmakers could vote according to their consciences on air strikes in Syria, a move which may hand Prime Minister David Cameron the majority he needs to strike Islamic State.

Poland ready to back Britain’s push for EU treaty change

Poland's new Eurosceptic government is ready to support many of Britain's demands for staying in the European Union, but will oppose any move to withhold benefits from the thousands of Poles living there, a senior Polish official said on Sunday (29 November).

Regions push for ‘bottom-up’ approach to climate change mitigation

SPECIAL REPORT / Ahead of COP21, EU cities and regions are seeking a bigger role and an expanded toolbox to implement any climate agreement reached in Paris.

UK cancels pioneering carbon capture and storage competition

The UK government has cancelled its £1 billion (about €1.4 billion) competition for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology just six months before it was due to be awarded, breaking a key pledge in the Conservative party manifesto. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.

December deal for EU reform difficult says Commission’s Brexit boss Faull

It will be difficult but not impossible for officials renegotiating Britain's EU membership to have a framework ready for substantial discussion at next month's European Union summit, the EU's chief negotiator said on Wednesday.

UK poll shows slight majority for Brexit

A small majority of Britons want to leave the European Union, according to a new opinion poll released on Tuesday (24 November).

Britain’s EU reform talks stumble on social benefits

Member states have firmly rejected British demands to limit EU citizens' rights to social benefits when working in the UK, saying this would be discriminatory.

Schulz on collision course with Cameron over national parliaments’ role

European Parliament President Martin Schulz has said he is in favour of giving a greater role to national parliaments in EU decision-making, one of the key demands of David Cameron seeking a renegotiation of the UK’s EU membership, but it has to be exercised towards national governments not EU institutions.