invite you to the online policy dialogue:

Hard choices ahead – Heading for a no-deal Brexit?

The European Policy Centre (EPC) and The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) Brussels Office are pleased to invite you to this joint on-line event on the state of Brexit, and European and British perspectives on the future EU-UK relationship.

Political attention has returned to Brexit once again. While the negotiations still face major stumbling blocks, in particular on key issues such as fair competition (the level playing field) and fisheries, the UK’s move to override the Withdrawal Agreement has undermined trust and even risks a breakdown in the negotiations. This online debate will look at the hard choices ahead and assess likely scenarios, especially the question of ‘deal or no deal’.

Our panel of leading Brexit experts will shed light on the latest developments at European and UK level and discuss what lies ahead for the EU-UK partnership from the point of view of different European countries, including the British, Central European and French perspectives, as well as that of the EU.

Przemysław Biskup

Senior Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Elvire Fabry

Senior Research Fellow, Jacques Delors Institute

Anand Menon

Director, UK in a Changing Europe

Fabian Zuleeg

Chief Executive, European Policy Centre

Jannike Wachowiak

Junior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (Chair)

Wednesday 23 September 2020
16.00-17.30

Note

PISM Brussels and the European Policy Centre had the pleasure to organize together a virtual policy dialogue, titled "Hard choices ahead – Heading for a no-deal Brexit?", which took place on September 23^rd. The conversation was centred around the hot topic on European agendas these days, namely that concerning Brexit and the ever more realistic possibility of a no-deal conclusion of the talks.

The conference moderator - Jannike Wachowiak – Junior Policy Analyst from the European Policy Centre , started the debate with introductory remarks about current state of Brexit negotiation. Then, she the topic and the distinguished panellists:

• Przemysław Biskup, Senior Analyst, The Polish Institute of International Affairs
• Elvire Fabry, Senior Research Fellow, Jacques Delors Institute
• Anand Menon, the Director, UK in a Changing Europe
• Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive, European Policy Centre

The debate aimed to shed light on both the European as well as the British perspectives on the future of the thorny EU-UK relationship and the way forward in terms of the Brexit talks. Especially in light of the recent, increased tension with regard to the UK’s decision to override the Withdrawal Agreement, and the possibility of a “No-Deal” scenario looming ever closer on a horizon, the panel of our experts tried their best to provide an invaluable information and explanation of different European countries’ perspective on the issue at hand.

Mr Menon had shed light on the UK’s view of the future and emphasized that, as opposed to some in the European Union, there still exists a large portion of the British politicians who strive to achieve a workable deal that could satisfy both the UK and the EU. On the other hand, as according to Mr Biskup from PISM, the negotiation strategy of the UK during the Brexit talks with the EU diminish the trustworthiness of the country on a global arena and lead to an assumption that the UK will end up not signing the agreement in its present form. An interesting point was furthered by Mr Zuleeg who focused on the nature of the future UK – EU relationship, noting that what we are witnessing right now is the defining moments of the type of the partnership that the two actors will have with each other going forward. It is up to them to transform it one way or the other and, in all likelihood, this new relationship will not be one of unconditional trust but also nor will it be one of conflict; rather we will most likely see something of an in-between.

The turn-out was astonishingly high with 303 registered participants of the debate and gave a clear incentive for organising subsequent events with this Brussels based PISM partneIn case you have missed the conference, the recording is available online, via following link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7035087021682295815

 This event was organised in the framework of the EPC Europe’s Political Economy Programme