Thread by @JamesCrisp6

This is really strange. The European Commission is claiming that the College of Commissioners has not or will not announce any decisions on pending legal action against member states today. It normally would. Why the change? 1/

There are at least two highly sensitive cases that were expected to have decisions on today - the referral of Poland to the European Court of Justice and the threat of referring UK to the ECJ. 2/

Poland was expected to get referred to EU's top court over ongoing Article 7 procedure over its alleged backsliding on democracy.

Britain though was due to get the threat of legal action over customs fraud. 3/

This is part of an embarassing case involving cheap chinese clothing getting into EU through UK. It's tricky becuase it undermines UK Brexit assurances that EU can trust UK customs officials 4/
ft.com/content/588e22…

And it is particularly tricky becase Theresa May is due to address EU leaders tonight on Chequers which is pretty much mainly about customs.

Downing St briefed yesterday that this was an EU ploy to embarass May and today - no action announced. 5/

I asked EC is this was to spare British blushes in Salzberg. Spokx claimed the reports were just reports and wouldn't comment.

I asked why there were no decisions

Spox said: The college decided not to make any decisions.

Curiouser and curioser.

ENDS