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OPINION - BREXIT

EUROPEAN UNION

‘The EU must not become Britain’s hostage’

Britain should not be allowed to delay the initiation of its withdrawal from the European Union, argues Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan.

Published: 28 June 2016 06:59 CEST
'The EU must not become Britain's hostage'
David Cameron also comes under fire in the Sydsvenskan editorial. Photo: Matt Dunham/AP/TT

The British Prime Minister David Cameron took a gamble when for party political reasons he announced a referendum, and he lost. Fifty-two percent voted for Britain to leave the EU.

That does not however hinder him from devoting all of his remaining time in office to getting the lengthy process of leaving the union off the ground as soon as possible.

That he announced his resignation – which will come into effect after the Conservative Party congress in October – feels far from satisfactory. Cameron also thinks that it is his successor who should trigger the Lisbon treaty's article 50 – the article which formally, and for the first time ever, initiates a country’s exit from the EU. Much can happen between now and October however, and Cameron would leave a far better political epitaph if he took hold of the Brexit he has triggered.

Personally, and promptly.

Britons’ yes to secession has shocked Europe and the world. With a four percentage point margin (52 to 48) the victory of the Leave campaign can be called short, but not unclear. The initiative of launching a petition to try and urge a second referendum therefore does not convince. The petition starter’s reference to a low voter turnout also doesn’t sound very convincing. The turnout – 72.2 percent – was larger than for the most recent general election.

The situation in British politics is chaotic.

The Leave side’s victory has led to changes at the top of the ruling Conservative Party. The opposition has also been shaken. On Sunday, Jeremy Corbyn attempted to quell a revolt at the top of his Labour Party. Early on Sunday morning he forced Hilary Benn, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, out the door. Benn has taken a number of shadow ministers with him.

In Scotland, where Remain took a convincing win with 62 percent, there is open discussion about leaving the UK and attempting to stay in the EU. In a BBC interview, the country’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party said that the Edinburgh parliament could veto withdrawal from the European Union.

Ironically, in 2014 the Scots voted to remain in the UK because that was seen as a prerequisite for being able to remain in the EU.

The referendum also had quick repercussions in Brussels. As soon as the result became clear, Britain’s European Commissioner Jonathan Hill announced that he was leaving his post with immediate effect. If a successor is appointed it is unclear whether he or she can – or should – participate in the Commission’s work.

When EU member state leaders meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the implications of Brexit, David Cameron, the real protagonist of the drama, is not welcome. That does not mean that he does not have a responsibility to facilitate the process he has put in motion. Britain has voted for secession, that is a fact and must be respected. To ignore the advisory referendum would further fuel the feeling of mistrust of the elite that has taken hold in Eurosceptic circles around Europe.

That the Brits now seem to want to delay the effects however, that Cameron himself does not want to trigger the withdrawal clause, creates a risk of them taking the EU hostage. Great Britain continues to formally be a member, but acts as if the handbrake has been taken off. The European Union cannot tolerate that. It has important things on its plate, and must now deal with them, not waste energy on recalcitrant Brits on their way out.

Much can and will happen politically between now and the Conservative Party conference in October. That Cameron has chosen to remain until then – without taking hold of the issue that has caused his resignation – makes the bad even worse. The result of the referendum has shaken the EU at its core, and also threatens to rupture the United Kingdom.

That is no impressive legacy. It would have looked better if Cameron had dealt with his party without dragging the EU into it. The least he can do now is to take care of his worries at home and not turn them into the EU’s problem.

This is a translation of an editorial written by Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan

For members

DRIVING

EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

The EU has agreed to extend the number of driving offences for which motorists from other member states can be fined for and to make it easier for authorities to chase up the fines and make foreign drivers pay.

Published: 13 May 2024 17:28 CEST
EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

In the last voting session of this term, in April, the European Parliament passed new rules to ensure drivers who breach local traffic rules in another EU member state are found and fined.

The cross-border enforcement (CBE) directive was first adopted in 2015 after it was found that non-resident drivers were more likely to commit speeding offences. The European Commission estimated that in 2008, foreign drivers accounted for about 5 percent of road traffic in the EU but committed around 15 percent of speeding offences.

The directive partially improved the situation, but according to the Commission 40 percent of traffic violations committed in other EU countries are still unpunished “because the offender is not identified or because the fine is not enforced”.

In March 2023, the Commission therefore proposed updating existing measures.

New rules extend the type of offences that will trigger assistance from another member state and seek to improve collaboration among national authorities to identify and fine offenders.

The European Parliament and Council agreed in March on the final text of the directive, which is now being formally approved by the two institutions.

André Sobczak, Secretary-General at Eurocities, a group representing European cities in Brussels, said: “While the final outcome of the discussions is not ideal, we are pleased that EU policymakers have at least put the issue of the enforcement of local traffic rules on foreign vehicles on the table. As we approach an election year, I believe such a practical example can demonstrate why a European approach is necessary to address local issues.”

Which traffic offences are covered?

The previous directive covered eight driving misconducts that would require member states to cooperate: speeding, not wearing seat belts, failing to stop at a red traffic light, drink-driving, driving under the effect of drugs, not wearing a helmet (motorcycles / scooters), using a forbidden lane and using a mobile phone or other communication devices while driving.

The Commission proposed to add to the list not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, dangerous overtaking, dangerous parking, crossing one or more solid white lines, driving the wrong way down a one way street, not respecting the rules on “emergency corridors” (a clear lane intended for priority vehicles), and using an overloaded vehicle.

The Parliament and Council agreed to these and added more offences: not giving way to emergency service vehicles, not respecting access restrictions or rules at a rail crossings, as well as hit-and-run offences.

Despite calls from European cities, the new directive does not cover offences related to foreign drivers avoiding congestion charges or low emission zones. In such cases, information about vehicle registration can only be shared among countries with bilateral agreements.

Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General at POLIS, a network of cities and regions working on urban transport, called on the next European Commission to take other local traffic offences, such as breaches of low emission zones, “fully at heart”.

Collaboration among national authorities

For the traffic violations covered by the directive, EU countries have to help each other to find the liable driver. The new directive further clarifies how.

Member states will have to use the European vehicle and driving licence information system (Eucaris) to get the data of the offender.

National authorities will have 11 months from the date of the violation to issue the fine to a vehicle from another EU member state. However, they will not have to resort to agencies or private entities to collect the fine. This was requested by the European Parliament to avoid scams or leaks of personal data.

Authorities in the country of the offender will have to reply to requests from another EU member state within two months.

When the amount of the fine is more than €70, and all options to have it paid have been exhausted, the member state where the violation occurred can ask the country of the offender to take over the collection.

The person concerned will be able to request follow-up documents in a different official EU language.

When will the new rules will be enforced?

Now that the EU Parliament has passed the law, the EU Council has to do the same, although there is no date set for when that will happen. Once the directive is adopted, EU countries will have 30 months to prepare for implementation.

Last year the Commission also proposed a new directive on driving licenses, but negotiations on the final text of this file will only take place after the European elections.

This article has been produced in collaboration with Europe Street news.

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