UK to be kicked out of Europol after Brexit
Michel Barnier dismisses British hopes of staying in the European police agency

Britain will be forced to leave Europol after Brexit, the EU’s chief negotiator has told a security conference in Berlin.
Michel Barnier accused the UK of abandoning the defence of Europe at a time of increased threats from terrorists both foreign and domestic, citing recent attacks in France, Belgium, Germany and the UK.
“Never had the need to be together, to protect ourselves together, to act together been so strong, so manifest. Yet rather than stay shoulder to shoulder with the Union, the British chose to be on their own again,” he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His comments will come as a blow to the UK Government. It has long said it wants the country to stay in Europol, which shares criminal intelligence data between EU police forces, and keep other EU security benefits such as the European Arrest Warrant and shared criminal databases.
The UK will also leave the European Defence Agency, The Independent reports, and “UK defence ministers and ambassadors [will] be excluded from international meetings with EU colleagues”.
In September, Theresa May vowed “unconditional” support for EU defence after Brexit, and the Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she hoped a “new legal framework” could “lock in” British access to Europol for years to come.
Politico reports that ministers view the UK’s military strength and security and intelligence expertise “as one of the country’s strongest hands in the Brexit negotiations”. Yet they appear to have once again underestimated the EU’s resolve, meaning the UK could find itself in a security limbo after March 2019.
Labour seized on the development, blaming the Government’s “inflexible approach” for delivering “a huge blow which threatens vital national security cooperation and risks critical information falling between the gaps”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?
Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Viktor Orban: is time up for Europe's longest-serving premier?
Today's Big Question Hungarian PM's power is under threat 'but not in the way – or from the people – one might expect'
-
Entente cordiale: will state visit help UK-French relations get over Brexit?
Today's Big Question The King, a keen Francophile who has a warm relationship with Emmanuel Macron, will play a key role in state visit
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Brexit 'reset' deal: how will it work?
In Depth Keir Stamer says the deal is a 'win-win', but he faces claims that he has 'surrendered' to Brussels on fishing rights
-
'The more complex question of why remains'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Are we entering the post-Brexit era?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer's 'big bet' with his EU reset deal is that 'nobody really cares' about Brexit any more