Brexit wont hurt EU engagement with Dhaka
European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon tells The Independent
HUMAYUN KABIR BHUIYAN
European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon has made it clear that the EU engagement with Dhaka will remain unchanged after the exit of the United Kingdom. In terms of EUs engagement, there will be absolutely no change. Thats for sure. Thats crystal clear, he told The Independent recently in an interview with The Independent at his office when asked if UKs exit will affect Bangladeshs engagement with the powerful bloc.
On June 23, UK decided to leave EU through a referendum called Brexit, causing turbulence across the world especially in the financial market.
Describing the decision of the UK to leave the union as unfortunate, the EU ambassador said that Article 50 is the specific provision of the Lisbon Treaty, 2009 that allows any member state to leave the union and London has not yet activated the provision.
Of course everybody knows the logical consequence of the referendum will be that one day the decision will be taken in London by the government to activate this provision, he said. Then there will be a period of maximum two years during which the EU and UK have to determine the conditions of UK leaving the union, Mayaudon said, adding that until then UK will remain within the EU with its rights and obligations. Ultimately the day the UK will leave the union there will be various consequences. You refer obviously to Bangladesh. But, I would say worldwide consequences will be of so many
natures and one of them in particular relevance for Bangladesh is the
single market, said the envoy.
You know the 28 member states of the EU constitute a single market of 500 million consumers and the day UK will be no longer a member of the EU, UK market will detach itself from this single market, he said.
Practically, he added, It means that the current duty-free quota-free market access regime in the name of EBA (Everything but Arms) that benefits Bangladesh will be of no relevance anymore for UK. So, your government and the government of UK will have to revisit this economic and trade relations.
And, Mayaudon said that his British colleague will be better-placed to speak on this issue of future trade relations between Dhaka and London.
When asked if the trade is only issue affecting Bangladesh, he said, I did not say that the only issue was trade. I said obviously it is the main issue. There are certainly other issues. This is certainly of prime importance for you in your relation with the UK.
When brought to his notice that half a million Bangladesh-origin Britons live in the UK and their remittance is being hit due to the declining value of pound sterling after the Brexit, the ambassador said, The effect is multiple and negative currency dimension is not surprise for anybody.
Referring to the EU leadership, who expressed their respect for the choice Britons made, he said that UKs decision to leave is certainly not good news for the EU, as this situation came at a time when Europe is facing multifaceted crises like migration, terrorism, economy and troubles in Ukraine, northern Africa and Middle East, especially, in Libya, Iraq and Syria.
