Latest news with #PedroSerrano
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
John Swinney praises EU 'security' before meeting European ambassadors
Speaking before meeting Pedro Serrano, the EU ambassador to the UK, the SNP leader stressed this could be crucial amid the current 'uncertain' political environment. Swinney said the recent deal between the UK Government and the EU was 'long overdue progress' towards rebuilding relationships post-Brexit, but insisted that it was no substitute for membership of the trading bloc. Wednesday's meeting with the EU ambassador will also involve Slovenian ambassador Sanja Stiglic and Bulgarian ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev. In addition the First Minister will also meet the minister-president of Flanders at an event to mark 25 years of Flemish trade and investment in Scotland. READ MORE: Top SNP figures 'hold secret meeting to discuss John Swinney's leadership' Swinney made clear he regards both visits as being opportunities to build Scotland's relationship with the EU. The First Minister stressed that 'the European Union is one of our most important economic and security partners'. Speaking about the deal the UK Government agreed in May, he said that this 'represents long-overdue progress in rebuilding our relationship' but added that 'no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020'. Swinney stated: 'That is why I firmly believe Scotland's best future lies as an independent country within the EU. 'More than ever, the current uncertain economic and geopolitical environment reinforces the importance of Scotland having the security, stability and opportunity that comes with EU membership. 'In the meantime we will continue to engage with nations and regions across Europe to maximise opportunities through trade, investment, innovation and academia. 'As we enter the next phase of negotiations, we stand ready to be closely involved as the UK Government develops its future priorities for working with the EU.'
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
EU membership could bring security and opportunity, John Swinney says
Speaking before meeting Pedro Serrano, the EU ambassador to the UK, the Scottish First Minister stressed this could be crucial amid the current 'uncertain' political environment. The SNP leader said the recent deal between the UK Government and the EU was 'long overdue progress' towards rebuilding relationships post-Brexit, but insisted that it was no substitute for membership of the trading bloc. Wednesday's meeting with the EU ambassador will also involve Slovenian ambassador Sanja Stiglic and Bulgarian ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev. READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch explores need to upgrade grid network in rural Scotland in new film In addition, the First Minister will also meet the minister-president of Flanders at an event to mark 25 years of Flemish trade and investment in Scotland. Swinney made clear he regards both visits as opportunities to build Scotland's relationship with the EU. The First Minister stressed that 'the European Union is one of our most important economic and security partners'. Speaking about the deal the UK Government agreed in May, he said that this 'represents long-overdue progress in rebuilding our relationship' but added that 'no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020'. Swinney stated: 'That is why I firmly believe Scotland's best future lies as an independent country within the EU. 'More than ever, the current uncertain economic and geopolitical environment reinforces the importance of Scotland having the security, stability and opportunity that comes with EU membership. 'In the meantime we will continue to engage with nations and regions across Europe to maximise opportunities through trade, investment, innovation and academia. 'As we enter the next phase of negotiations, we stand ready to be closely involved as the UK Government develops its future priorities for working with the EU.'
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
First Minister meeting with EU Ambassador to the UK
First Minister John Swinney will meet European Union Ambassador to the United Kingdom Pedro Serrano at Bute House on Wednesday to discuss the challenges and opportunities to arise from the recent deal between the UK and the EU. They will be joined by the Slovenian Ambassador Sanja Štiglic and Bulgarian Ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev, as part of a delegation to Scotland. Later today the First Minister will also meet the Minister-President of Flanders at an event to celebrate 25 years of Flemish trade and investment in Scotland. The First Minister views both engagements as opportunities to reinforce the strong relationship that exists between Scotland and the EU. He said: 'The European Union is one of our most important economic and security partners. While the deal struck on the 19 May represents long-overdue progress in rebuilding our relationship, no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020. 'That is why I firmly believe Scotland's best future lies as an independent country within the EU. More than ever, the current uncertain economic and geopolitical environment reinforces the importance of Scotland having the security, stability and opportunity that comes with EU membership. 'In the meantime we will continue to engage with nations and regions across Europe to maximise opportunities through trade, investment, innovation and academia. As we enter the next phase of negotiations, we stand ready to be closely involved as the UK Government develops its future priorities for working with the EU.' Bute House PHOTO © 2024 The Edinburgh Reporter Like this: Like Related
The Independent
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Badenoch tells EU she would reverse Labour's post-Brexit reset if UK ‘damaged'
Kemi Badenoch has told the EU's ambassador in London that she would reverse any measures in the Government's post-Brexit reset that 'damaged the interests of the United Kingdom'. Mrs Badenoch is due to meet Pedro Serrano, the EU's representative to the UK, in London on Monday. The meeting between Mrs Badenoch and the ambassador comes a week before the Prime Minister will host bloc chiefs at a major summit in the UK. The May 19 meeting is likely to be the first in a series of annual summits between the UK and the EU, and comes as ministers are looking to reset relations with Brussels. In a letter to Mr Serrano, dated on Friday, Mrs Badenoch described Brexit as a 'defining moment for our nation'. She laid out five tests that the Conservative Party has when it comes to the UK's relationship with the EU, including 'no backsliding on free movement or compulsory asylum transfers' and 'no new money' being paid to the bloc. She would also want to see 'no reduction' in the UK's fishing rights and no 'European Court jurisdiction' as well as 'no compromise on the primacy of Nato as the cornerstone of European security'. Mrs Badenoch explained: 'It is important that I stress that the next Conservative government under my leadership would not remain bound by terms that failed the five tests set out above, and damaged the interests of the United Kingdom and its people. 'We would take back any legislative or judicial powers handed over to the EU by the present government.' A Conservative spokesman said that Sir Keir is 'clearly gearing up to hand over the freedoms we won through Brexit just to be in Brussels' good books'. The spokesman added: 'Kemi hopes that pledging to reverse Starmer's EU surrender will send a clear signal to the EU that any lop-sided deal they sign with Labour isn't worth the paper it's written on.' On Friday, Sir Keir told the Guardian that he is 'ambitious' about what could be achieved with the EU. 'I want a closer relationship on security, on defence, on trade and on the economy,' he told the newspaper. A Labour source said that Mrs Badenoch 'spent her time as Trade Secretary picking fights and alienating our allies rather than doing deals that put money in working people's pockets'. They added: 'Now she is seeking to pre-judge a future deal that hasn't even been agreed yet and would only be made if it was in the British national interest. 'The Labour government is getting on with delivering on the mandate we were given last July to build a strategic partnership with European partners to deliver an improved deal in the national interest.'
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Badenoch: I'll reverse Starmer's EU reset if it betrays Brexit
Kemi Badenoch has said she will tear up Sir Keir Starmer's EU reset if it betrays Brexit. The Conservative leader has raised the alarm with the EU's ambassador to Britain about planned concessions on freedom of movement and fisheries, saying: 'I will make it my mission to take back every power he hands over to Brussels.' Mrs Badenoch will meet Pedro Serrano, the bloc's envoy in London, to set out her position on Monday and claim that the Prime Minister's reset 'isn't worth the paper it's written on'. It comes in the run-up to Sir Keir's summit with the EU in London on May 19, which will be the first UK-EU summit of its kind. In a letter to Mr Serrano, seen by The Telegraph, Mrs Badenoch said the Conservatives 'would take back any legislative or judicial powers handed over to the EU by the present government' if returned to power. Emphasising the five tests by which she would judge the Government's EU reset, The Tory leader pledged to reverse any offending elements of the deal if she became prime minister. She wrote: 'It is important that I stress that the next Conservative government under my leadership would not remain bound by terms that failed the five tests set out above, and damaged the interests of the United Kingdom and its people.' The first of Mrs Badenoch's five tests is that there must be no 'backsliding on freedom of movement'. She warned that the Government's planned youth mobility scheme with the EU 'could increase immigration asymmetrically' by allowing a new wave of European migration into the UK. She wrote: 'I am wary of arrangements such as 'youth mobility' or asylum returns agreements that could increase immigration asymmetrically, given our ongoing border challenges. 'It's crucial that any agreements do not exacerbate these pressures, as they would violate the settled principles which the public in the UK voted for in the referendum.' She also told Mr Serrano that concessions on access to Britain's territorial waters in return for defence co-operation with the EU would be 'a betrayal of our fishing industry'. A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Kemi hopes that pledging to reverse Starmer's EU surrender will send a clear signal to the EU that any lopsided deal they sign with Labour isn't worth the paper it's written on.' Mrs Badenoch told The Telegraph: 'After his Chagos Islands surrender, and the weak deals with India and the US, I don't hold out much hope for Starmer's so-called EU reset. 'Labour have wrecked our economy through Rachel Reeves' punishing jobs tax, and this new EU deal could throw open Britain's doors to millions of young EU workers just as unemployment rises at home. And this on top of a likely sell-out of our fishing industry. 'It's time Keir Starmer shows some strength. An EU deal done out of weakness will make life harder for British families and businesses. If he gets it wrong, I will make it my mission to take back every power he hands over to Brussels. I will always fight for Britain's national interest – not sell it off in a panic.' But Mrs Badenoch stressed that she would not break any diplomatic protocols in her meeting with Mr Serrano, writing: 'It is the prerogative of the democratically elected government to determine the best policies for the country as it sees them. 'The Labour Government will be doing this in all its negotiations and it is the job of the opposition, my job, to hold them to account for their decisions. I do not expect to be discussing any details of negotiations when we meet or break any protocol.'
