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| Garth: We need a deal that will benefit both |
| Bratislava, 21.08.2017 |
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| “When I talk to the Brits living in Slovakia, they are quite relaxed about things,” UK Ambassador to Slovakia Andrew Garth says about the Brexit-related concerns.
The Slovak Spectator spoke to Ambassador Garth in mid-July, as the second phase of the Brexit negotiations was about to end in Brussels.
The Slovak Spectator (TSS): The Brexit talks are on. Where do they stand now?
Andrew Garth (AG): The negotiations have only just started. Before the summer we saw two rounds of negotiations. And there will be many phases of the process because they will last two years. We have agreed to focus on three key areas initially. One is the status of over 3 million EU nationals in the UK, and the status of just over a million UK nationals in the EU. We do not think this issue should wait until the end of the two-year process to be resolved. We can resolve it this autumn and that is what we are working towards so we can give families the certainty that they require.
The other two areas that we’re focusing on initially are Northern Ireland, to ensure that we don’t see a return to the hard border of the past, and the divorce bill, as some might call it. And, as you can tell, we are in a very different place than the European Commission about the financial settlement.
TSS: How are things going for Slovakia?
AG: We entered the negotiations looking for a deal that works to the benefit of the UK, the EU, and Slovakia. A deal particularly focused on trade. Continuous prosperity is really important because the economic growth in Europe has been struggling and is fragile. It is important that the deal we strike keeps the European economy moving. The UK is the second largest economy in Europe. If the UK economy falters, it will affect the rest of Europe, too. We need to avoid punishment talk because that is self-harming. We need a deal that will be beneficial for both. So this close, special partnership between the EU and the UK is in everybody’s interest. We do not need to increase paperwork for businesses. There is enough paperwork already. Why introduce tariffs? Introducing tariffs would mean extra work, would make business more difficult, and it would also mean that European products become more expensive than those from outside the EU.
TSS: What were the main concerns you have heard among Brits in Slovakia over the year since the referendum?
AG: Interestingly, when I talk to the Brits living in Slovakia, they are quite relaxed. Many of them are married to Slovak nationals or they have jobs here. They’ve also seen our offer to EU nationals in the UK, and know that, if that is reciprocated, then their situation won’t change. Our offer to EU nationals is that if you were in the UK legally before, what we’re calling, ‘the specified date’, you are entitled to remain and to apply for ‘settled status’ once you’ve been in the UK for five years continuously. You might already have achieved those five years by the ‘specified date’, or you might achieve them after it. Now obviously it’s crucial what that day is. And that is one of the things we’re negotiating first. But it will be no earlier than March 29, 2017 – when we triggered Article 50 – and no later than March 29, 2019 – when we leave the EU. Under our proposal EU nationals would receive the same rights as British nationals. The same economic rights, employment rights, pension rights, health and welfare rights. We think it is a very fair offer. If reciprocated, then that should be reassuring to the Brits living in Slovakia as well. There is a big difference in numbers of course, there are at least 95,000 Slovaks living in the UK and we may have a maximum of about 2,000 Brits here.
TSS: Slovakia is interested in becoming the home of one of the agencies that will be moving away from London due to Brexit, the European Medicines Agency. How do you see Slovakia’s chances on this?
AG: I’m sure that Slovakia will make a compelling case. From my understanding, Slovakia is one of the countries that does not have any institutional EU HQ in the country. However, competition for these agencies is going to be really tough, particularly from the bigger member states.
TSS: The UK is one of the European countries that suffered the most terrorist attacks over the past year. How have these affected the atmosphere in the country?
AG: We, Brits, are a resilient nation. Unfortunately, throughout our history
we’ve had difficulties in this area. The true British spirit is to keep calm and carry on, that’s what we will do; we will not allow terrorists to change the way we live our lives. I was in the UK a few weeks ago and it was really busy. Tourists are still coming in. We don’t see any negative effects on the number of people coming to the UK. It is still a beautiful country, particularly when the weather is good, and it’s got lots to offer.
TSS: How does Britain cooperate with the EU, including Slovakia, on countering terrorism?
AG: That will be part of the negotiations as well. Obviously, keeping citizens safe is important to every member state. Currently we have very strong bilateral relationships within the EU, all of which cover security, and also a relationship with the relevant EU institutions. We want that to continue. Again, how that continues will depend very much on the negotiations themselves.
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Tel. : +421 33 53 418 53, Fax : +421 33 53 418 52, E-mail : info@eurobrew.sk |
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