The big concern in the corridors of power in Brussels is that Brexit essentially creates a dangerous competitor right on the EU’s doorstep, right at a time when the bloc is trying to compete against the likes of China, India and the United States.

Over the next eleven months, their negotiators will likely try to convince the UK to sign up to the most important EU rules in exchange for a lucrative trade agreement that offers complete or near-complete access to the single market.

In Brussels’ ideal scenario, the British government will take a deal of that nature and make its peace with being a ‘rule-taker’, thus nulling the threat of UK businesses undercutting their continental European rivals.

During a teary press conference by the three presidents of the EU institutions on Friday, head of the Council Charles Michel said “we wish to have the closest ties possible with Great Britain.”

Whether that pans out is another matter, but as of next week the battle lines will be drawn.

As a contingency plan of sorts, the EU’s executive branch has drawn up an industrial strategy for the coming years that is meant to help establish the bloc as a major global player. The plan mentions new buzzwords like ‘level playing-field’ and ‘dynamic alignment’, in what is an obvious reference to the UK.

But the really interesting parts are in the details of the plan. The headline area of interest is 6G, next-generation mobile technology that would likely succeed as-yet undeployed 5G services.

It talks about “strategic partnerships on research and innovation” and “new standards for the Internet of Things, robotics, nanotechnologies, microelectronics, 5G, high-performance computing, quantum computing, and critical digital and data cloud infrastructure.”

When it comes to 5G, the European Commission this week advised EU countries to up their security standards, compile lists of risky suppliers and adopt a ‘multi-vendor’ approach, without explicitly mentioning China or telecoms giant Huawei.

That was enough to placate the US, which has strongly urged European countries not to let Chinese suppliers have access to their networks.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Washington is looking “forward to continuing to work with our allies and partners to build a more secure, prosperous, and vibrant 5G future” and called on national governments to implement the EU recommendations.

The UK will no longer enjoy the collective protection of a multi-country union to stand up to any potential US coercion though, which will almost certainly come as London goes in search of a transatlantic trade deal.

Pompeo has already said US officials would work with their British counterparts to “get this right” after Westminster allowed Huawei partial access to its network.

During 2020’s transition period, the UK will still be subject to strict state-aid rules but wheels are in motion to make them more lenient for members of the bloc that want to invest in priority sectors and projects.

France and a consortium of six other countries were given the green light to invest billions of euros in developing battery manufacturing capacity in-house, as part of the EU’s drive to compete against Southeast Asia.

Similar schemes are in the works for microelectronics and hydrogen power, according to the industrial strategy. The European Investment Bank, which is targeting a trillion euros of investment in the next decade, is heavily interested in those kinds of technologies.

This week, the Commission also announced that it will look into whether a common phone charger for all devices would be a feasible option. MEPs are certainly keen on it

This is admittedly long-term thinking and the EU has been guilty in the past of coming out with bold visions and roadmaps and not following through. 2020 will prove to be a litmus test for whether it is mere pie-in-the-sky posturing or game-changing stuff.

In the short term, a stark symbol of where the UK is going to be cut out of the collective problem-solving is in dealing with the coronavirus scare.

The British government used its final days as an EU member to request assistance from the dedicated emergency response programme, which helped evacuate Brits from China, but research grants for increasing our understanding of the virus could bypass the UK.

Ten million euros are up for grabs under the Horizon 2020 research scheme and more is likely to come in the next instalment of the programme. Britain wants to remain involved but if Norway’s example is anything to go by, then the UK would have to sign up to freedom of movement to get its wish.

What is clear here in Brussels is that although the EU is willing to say ‘bon voyage’ to the Brits as they sail away, most officials and leaders are already leaving the dock and returning to more pressing matters.

The big concern in the corridors of power in Brussels is that Brexit essentially creates a dangerous competitor right on the EU’s doorstep, right at a time when the bloc is trying to compete against the likes of China, India and the United States.

Over the next eleven months, their negotiators will likely try to convince the UK to sign up to the most important EU rules in exchange for a lucrative trade agreement that offers complete or near-complete access to the single market.

In Brussels’ ideal scenario, the British government will take a deal of that nature and make its peace with being a ‘rule-taker’, thus nulling the threat of UK businesses undercutting their continental European rivals.

During a teary press conference by the three presidents of the EU institutions on Friday, head of the Council Charles Michel said “we wish to have the closest ties possible with Great Britain.”

Whether that pans out is another matter, but as of next week the battle lines will be drawn.

As a contingency plan of sorts, the EU’s executive branch has drawn up an industrial strategy for the coming years that is meant to help establish the bloc as a major global player. The plan mentions new buzzwords like ‘level playing-field’ and ‘dynamic alignment’, in what is an obvious reference to the UK.

But the really interesting parts are in the details of the plan. The headline area of interest is 6G, next-generation mobile technology that would likely succeed as-yet undeployed 5G services.

It talks about “strategic partnerships on research and innovation” and “new standards for the Internet of Things, robotics, nanotechnologies, microelectronics, 5G, high-performance computing, quantum computing, and critical digital and data cloud infrastructure.”

When it comes to 5G, the European Commission this week advised EU countries to up their security standards, compile lists of risky suppliers and adopt a ‘multi-vendor’ approach, without explicitly mentioning China or telecoms giant Huawei.

That was enough to placate the US, which has strongly urged European countries not to let Chinese suppliers have access to their networks.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Washington is looking “forward to continuing to work with our allies and partners to build a more secure, prosperous, and vibrant 5G future” and called on national governments to implement the EU recommendations.

The UK will no longer enjoy the collective protection of a multi-country union to stand up to any potential US coercion though, which will almost certainly come as London goes in search of a transatlantic trade deal.

Pompeo has already said US officials would work with their British counterparts to “get this right” after Westminster allowed Huawei partial access to its network.

During 2020’s transition period, the UK will still be subject to strict state-aid rules but wheels are in motion to make them more lenient for members of the bloc that want to invest in priority sectors and projects.

France and a consortium of six other countries were given the green light to invest billions of euros in developing battery manufacturing capacity in-house, as part of the EU’s drive to compete against Southeast Asia.

Similar schemes are in the works for microelectronics and hydrogen power, according to the industrial strategy. The European Investment Bank, which is targeting a trillion euros of investment in the next decade, is heavily interested in those kinds of technologies.

This week, the Commission also announced that it will look into whether a common phone charger for all devices would be a feasible option. MEPs are certainly keen on it

This is admittedly long-term thinking and the EU has been guilty in the past of coming out with bold visions and roadmaps and not following through. 2020 will prove to be a litmus test for whether it is mere pie-in-the-sky posturing or game-changing stuff.

In the short term, a stark symbol of where the UK is going to be cut out of the collective problem-solving is in dealing with the coronavirus scare.

The British government used its final days as an EU member to request assistance from the dedicated emergency response programme, which helped evacuate Brits from China, but research grants for increasing our understanding of the virus could bypass the UK.

Ten million euros are up for grabs under the Horizon 2020 research scheme and more is likely to come in the next instalment of the programme. Britain wants to remain involved but if Norway’s example is anything to go by, then the UK would have to sign up to freedom of movement to get its wish.

What is clear here in Brussels is that although the EU is willing to say ‘bon voyage’ to the Brits as they sail away, most officials and leaders are already leaving the dock and returning to more pressing matters.