EU: Vestager wants “level playing field” after Brexit

On Tuesday, November 20, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that the EU’s 27 remaining Member States would remain very vigilant that Britain play by the same rules as Europe on business after Brexit.

Vestager, who has spearheaded Europe’s effort to keep tech giants in line with EU law, said that her teams have been working “very closely” with Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on the matter.

“From what we see, the UK economy will be integrated with other European businesses and this is why the level playing field is so important,” she told AFP in an interview.

“The UK may not be a member (of the EU) of course but you just don’t drift away thousands of kilometres (miles) and become another nation, you’re still Europe one way or another,” she said.

The Commissioner said this was especially pertinent on the Irish border backstop, the most sensitive topic in the negotiations that involves preventing a visible border between EU-member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland after the divorce.

In the draft agreement, both sides have agreed that under the backstop arrangement the UK must observe “level playing field” commitments on competition and state aid, as well as on environmental standards and tax.