British Ambassador champions UK-EU relations at university forum
The British Ambassador to Guatemala, Carolyn Davidson, attended a university forum to discuss the future of the UK-EU relationship.
The forum was held at Universidad Rafael Landivar and included the participation of the EU Ambassador to Guatemala, Stefano Gatto. It was moderated by the political analyst Jonathan Ordoñez.
For over an hour participants discussed a diverse range of issues, from the UK’s historic commitment to Europe, the impact on EU institutions after Brexit, to the future of Europe and its interaction with an independent Britain.
Ambassador Davidson stressed the importance the UK attaches to the future of the EU, and that a prosperous Europe means a prosperous Britain. That’s why the UK just recently agreed in March an implementation period with the EU that will bring certainty to businesses and citizens.
This roadmap will also benefit the economic relationship between the UK and other countries outside the EU, including Guatemala.
The Ambassador highlighted some of the many contributions the UK makes to the EU and Europe as natural neighbours. Britain is a key economic player, with a particularly important financial services sector and its own currency. It’s a serious foreign policy player – a nuclear power with a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
Finally, Ambassador Davidson explained that the UK is unconditionally committed to Europe’s security. Britain wants to keep cooperating in a wide range of areas, including foreign policy, defence policy, law enforcement, and judicial cooperation in criminal matters. She encouraged participants to focus on our mutual strengths in order to keep building on this new relationship.
The forum closed with questions from the public.