UK Government on EU sanctions cooperation post Brexit

The Prime Minister today (Saturday 17 February) gave a speech at the Munich Security Conference (text here), saying that the UK “will want to continue to work closely” with the EU on sanctions. “We will look to carry over all EU sanctions at the time of our departure. And we will all be stronger in the UK and EU have the means to co-operate on sanctions now and potentially to develop them again in the future.” As to “ensuring the Iranian nuclear deal is properly policed or standing up to Russia’s hostile actions, whether in Ukraine, the Western Balkans or in cyberspace… our success depends on a breadth of partnership that extends far beyond the institutional mechanisms for cooperation with the EU”.

The UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson MP also gave a speech on various aspects of Brexit last Wednesday, one of a series of speeches by cabinet ministers. He said that post Brexit “It would be illogical not to discuss such matters as sanctions together, bearing in mind that UK expertise provides more than half of all EU sanctions listings.” Link here (14 February 2018).