If Brexit was a football match, then half-time was reached this weekend between kick-off (23 June 2016, the day of the UK referendum) and the final whistle (29 March 2017, the date the UK leaves the EU). There is of course the possibility of extra time but the green light has still not been given for talks on a transition or implementation period.
Across all sectors of the economy, and increasingly on the continent as well as in Britain, alarm calls have rung out for negotiations to move onto post-Brexit relations, fast. The obstacle the impasse on priority issues has raised the possibility of no deal being reached: acceptable or even desirable for some, catastrophic say many others.
The word uncertainty has peppered the Brexit debate across a range of issues from citizens’ rights and the labour market, to the Irish border, future funding, regulations and especially, trade arrangements. The message from many in business: clarity is needed now.
With British and European business leaders due to meet UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday, here is a selection of recent comments from key players across the economy in Britain and in Europe.
Farming and fishing
As well as trade, agriculture is also concerned about migrant labour, costs and especially changes to subsidies post-Brexit. The prospects for Britain’s farmers would appear to depend on sector and performance. A report by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on various Brexit scenarios concluded that a future free-trade agreement with the EU could see incomes rise. But and it is a big but’ average agricultural incomes could halve if no deal leads to protectionist barriers or low-cost global competition.
We are very reliant on the EU for our exports, not surprisingly given that it’s an affluent region and it’s on our doorstep, and in the absence of that market we wouldn’t be able to find alternative markets to replace those.
Phil Hadley, AHDB international market development director on BBC Radio.
euronews 2017