Jun162017

Press release: DIT appoints Crawford Falconer as new Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser

HM Government
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A globally respected trade negotiator, tasked with sealing deals with the UK’s key trading partners, has been appointed today by the Prime Minister and the International Trade Secretary.

Internationally recognised expert Crawford Falconer will act as head of profession for trade negotiators and will bolster the Civil Service’s trade negotiation skills, bringing over 25 years of public service in trade and foreign affairs.

As the Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser and Second Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Trade (DIT) he will be responsible to the Secretary of State for International Trade, The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP for negotiating with ministers the best global trade deals that will benefit the whole of the UK.

The new expert Second Permanent Secretary post was created to support the establishment of a world-class trade negotiation function and lead this new profession within the Civil Service, reporting to the DIT Permanent Secretary.

Together with his team Crawford will:

  • develop and negotiate free trade agreements and market access deals with non-EU countries
  • negotiate plurilateral trade deals on specific sectors or products
  • make the department a ‘centre of excellence’ for negotiation and British trade
  • support the UK’s membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Since its formation in July 2016, the headcount at DIT has increased to a global workforce of over 3,000 people. The Trade Policy Group that includes policy and country specialists, as well as expert economic analysts and lawyers, has itself quadrupled in size.

International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox said:

Britain is a great global trading nation and, as we leave the EU, we will embrace the world and seek to build an outward-looking Britain that is confident on the world stage.

We’re attracting the very best global talent to DIT as an international economic department. Crawford brings extensive experience of trade negotiation and foreign affairs and will play a key leadership role, with ministers and the first Permanent Secretary as we further build our trade capability

Welcoming the appointment Sir Jeremy Heywood said:

As the UK’s first Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser, Crawford Falconer will play a crucial role in building the Department for International Trade’s trade negotiation capability, enabling the new department to take forward its vital mission of promoting free trade and supporting UK business on the global stage. I am delighted that we have been able to secure someone for this role with a long and distinguished track record in international trade negotiations.

Crawford Falconer is an excellent addition to DIT’s senior team and I look forward to working with him.

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at DIT, said:

Crawford Falconer brings a wealth of global trade expertise to the Department for International Trade from over 25 years of working on trade policy in the New Zealand government, the OECD and academia.

International trade drives the prosperity of the UK and the world. As we build our relationships to create a more global Britain, Crawford will be central to our work to secure the best trade deals that deliver for businesses and consumers.

Crawford Falconer said:

As the UK prepares to leave the EU, it will be top of the government’s agenda to turn the enormous new opportunities opening up for the UK into win-win agreements with our trading partners around the globe.

That will bring tangible new gains to us at home, and it will bring gains to those trading partners that join us. As the world’s fifth largest economic power, the UK will bring much needed leadership to the international trade agenda. I am absolutely delighted to join this hugely exciting new journey.

DIT has already established a series of 9 ‘working groups’ with 15 countries including India, China and Australia and high-level dialogues to explore the best ways of progressing our trade and investment relationships.

The announcement comes as Dr Fox prepares to visit his US counterparts in Washington (Monday 19 June 2017) to explore ways of deepening trade and economic links on what will be his first international visit since being reappointed International Trade Secretary.

A New Zealand/UK dual-national, Crawford Falconer is currently Professor of Global Value Chains and Trade at Lincoln University. This follows a long career at the heart of NZ’s Foreign Office, specialising in trade. He was latterly the NZ Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister for International Trade and Foreign Affairs. He is a former NZ Ambassador to the WTO, and the holder of a variety of trade-related posts within the ministry.

Further information

Contact the DIT Media and Digital Team on 020 7215 2000.

Follow us: @tradegovuk, gov.uk/dit

Jun162017

Jeremy Corbyn letter to the Prime Minister regarding the independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower

Labour
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Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the
Labour Party, has
today written to the Prime Minister regarding the decision to hold a full and
independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower.

Jeremy Corbyn said:

“Whilst
the inquiry should be limited to the awful events at Grenfell Tower, it must be
empowered to consider all the steps that were, or were not, taken leading up to
and contributing to this most terrible incident. It must also identify the
urgent steps that need to be taken in relation to fire safety standards for
other buildings of this nature.

“In
addition to finding facts, the inquiry must be empowered to make
recommendations for the avoidance of any similar future disaster – and in so
doing, to consider recommendations arising from previous similar fire-related
deaths.”

The full text of the letter is
below.

Theresa
May                                                                                     16 June 2017

The
Prime Minister

10
Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

Dear
Prime Minister,

I
am writing to note your decision to hold a full and independent public inquiry
into the fire at Grenfell Tower and to seek your assurance that the inquiry you
establish will be held under the provisions of the 2005 Inquiries Act.

On
the assumption that it is your intention to establish a 2005 Act Inquiry, I
want to share my view that it is vital that the Terms of Reference be drawn
with sufficient scope for the inquiry to establish all the relevant facts and
to ensure that all necessary lessons are learned. Whilst the inquiry should be
limited to the awful events at Grenfell Tower, it must be empowered to consider
all the steps that were, or were not, taken leading up to and contributing to
this most terrible incident. It must also identify the urgent steps that need
to be taken in relation to fire safety standards for other buildings of this
nature.

In
addition to finding facts, the inquiry must be empowered to make
recommendations for the avoidance of any similar future disaster – and in so
doing, to consider recommendations arising from previous similar fire-related
deaths.

It
is very important that the Terms of Reference are drawn with sufficient scope
to require the participation of all those with a legitimate interest – this
should undoubtedly include the bereaved families, survivors and also
individuals and organisations with a legitimate interest such as the residents’
campaign and representative organisations who were involved in the period
leading up to these events. Their views and experiences are as important, if
not more so, as the expert opinions of state actors and their service providing
contractors.

I am also
very concerned to ensure that this public inquiry is not used to delay any
parallel actions which might be taken by interested parties. It is important
that justice is served in as comprehensive and timely way possible. This must
include, of course, ensuring that legal funding is available to support those
involved in the inquiry and any inquests.  I would also like to support the
request of the Mayor of London for an interim report to be produced which I
believe is important for the community to feel as if justice is being done in a
timely manner.

Whilst
I believe that the policies and priorities of your government in the arenas of
social housing and public safety are legitimate targets for my criticism, I
hope we both share a determination to discover the truths underpinning this
tragedy so to avoid any repetition.  For these reasons, in support of my
hope to publicly welcome your decision, I would appreciate early consultation
on your government’s proposed inquiry Terms of Reference.

In
response to my question yesterday, the Minister of State for Policing and the
Fire Service made it very clear that survivors made homeless would be
appropriately and locally rehoused. This is imperative in order that they be
enabled to re-build their lives and have some hope of recovery from these
devastating events. It now appears that the Royal Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea may not be as committed to ensuring that all are re-housed locally.
Your public re-commitment to this is imperative as part of an unequivocal,
wider statement that the government will do all it can to provide timely
practical support to those who have suffered so much. In this context, I note
the announcement of the first government investment of £5million. Given the
magnitude and scale of the crisis, this will clearly not be sufficient and I
therefore await information regarding further funding plans.

On
a related matter, I believe that an attitude of generosity and compassion in
relation to the costs of funeral expenses and ensuring that it is possible for
families living outside the UK to travel here to attend funerals, as well as
participate in the inquiry, is also warranted in such a tragic situation. This
is particularly the case given the circumstances of many of the Grenfell Tower
residents, including the number of bereaved families who may be resident
overseas and the costs of burial and cremation. As was also raised at
yesterday’s brief discussion in the Grand Committee, I would expect that the
Home Office guarantees the replacement, as a matter of urgent priority, of all
documentation for those affected.

Finally,
on behalf of all those in the Labour Party, may I express our admiration for
those in the emergency services who responded with the utmost courage and
professionalism and share our deepest sorrow at these harrowing events – and
commit that we will do all in our power to ensure that this be the last such
tragedy of its kind in our country.

Yours
sincerely,

Jeremy
Corbyn

Jun162017

Joint EU-U.S. press statement following the EU-U.S. Justice and

EU
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On 16 June 2017, the EU – U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs took place in Malta. The meeting reaffirmed the strong and historical bonds of partnership between the United States of America and the European Union, and the commitment to continue working closely together in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs.

The European Union, hosting the meeting in Valletta, was represented by the Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová, the Union Security Commissioner, Julian King, by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove and by Malta’s Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Michael Farrugia and Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The United States of America was represented by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and by Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine C. Duke.

The European Union and United States of America underlined the critical importance of their cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs and the need to sustain and deepen cooperation while facing shared security challenges, for the benefit of the security of citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.

The European Union and the United States of America discussed their common efforts to fight terrorism. The discussion focused specifically on working together to address the issue of foreign terrorist fighters through improved information sharing, and addressing the challenge of radicalization, particularly on the internet, as well as the role of anti-money laundering legislation in tackling terrorist financing. The two sides also exchanged views and took stock of recent European Union actions in the areas of migration, border management and its role in ensuring internal security.

The discussion further covered the implementation of the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the question of access by law enforcement authorities to electronic evidence.

Both sides welcomed the entry into force of the EU-U.S. Data Protection “Umbrella” Agreement and reiterated their commitment to ensure its full implementation.

The European Union and the United States of America also discussed the threats from terrorism to aviation security and working together to raise global aviation security standards to protect passengers.

The European Union and the United States of America agreed on the importance of advancing towards reciprocal visa free travel under their respective legal frameworks. Both sides endorsed a cooperative approach to assisting Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania in advancing more rapidly towards the fulfillment of the requirements for designation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, consistent with U.S. law.

The sides reaffirmed the need to step up joint work on cybersecurity and cybercrime in all its dimensions including with the private sector. They also agreed to continue the good cooperation on fighting illicit drugs and to consider joint efforts on fighting smuggling and trafficking of migrants.

Reiterating the progress made and the need to face global challenges together, the European Union and the United States of America remain committed to reinforce their partnership and meet again in the second half of 2017 in Washington.

Jun162017

Statement by the Spokesperson on the new electoral law in Lebano

EU
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The agreement reached on a new electoral law governing the next parliamentary elections is an important step towards fully functioning democratic institutions in Lebanon.

Following on the election of the President and the appointment of a new government at the end of 2016, the agreement to hold democratic elections under the new law will enable the government to advance with the necessary economic and structural measures. This will contribute to stabilise the country and stimulate faster economic growth.

As a long-standing partner and friend of Lebanon, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to provide support for the preparation and the holding of the elections.

We will also continue to fulfil the commitments made in the EU-Lebanon Compact. We will continue to work closely together towards a stable, safe and democratic Republic of Lebanon living in peace, security and prosperity with the whole region.

 

 

Jun162017

EU signs the Istanbul Convention

EU
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Violence against women is rooted in the unequal power relations between women and men and reflects one of the strongest expressions of gender inequality. In this context the European Institute for Gender Equality has been strongly supporting the EU and the Member States in their efforts to eradicate violence against women since the very start of its activities seven years ago.  “The elimination of violence against women involves challenging the unequal division of social, political, and economic power among women and men, and the ways in which this inequality is perpetuated through institutions at all levels of society” says Virginija Langbakk, EIGE’s Director. 

The signing of the Istanbul Convention by Commissioner Věra Jourová on 13 June 2017 on the basis of two decisions adopted by the Council on 11 May 2017 is therefore an extremely important step in establishing the first legally binding instrument dedicated to combating violence against women.  Calling as it does for a regular monitoring of State efforts and policy initiatives and the designing of more effective strategies.

The Chairwoman of EIGE’s Management Board, Prof. Dr Kalliope Agapiou-Josephides, highlighted the importance of the signing by Commissioner Věra Jourová of the Council of Europe Convention (Istanbul Convention) on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence and underlined EIGE’s commitment to take all necessary actions to fulfil its role in this respect.

Photo (C): Council of Europe