Profile picture
James Rothwell @JamesERothwell
, 6 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
Spoke to Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok today. His mother housed British soldiers during Market Garden in WW2, but he made it clear that he won't go soft on the UK over Brexit as it's a "lose-lose" scenario...
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
Stef Blok, apparently a football fan, said Brexit reminded him of a quote from the Netherlands' very own Johan Cruyff: "Each disadvantage has its advantage." And for the Dutch, it's UK firms jumping ship to Amsterdam and Rotterdam
The Netherlands will welcome any UK-based firm that decides to partially or fully move over to their turf, he said. The Netherlands is "not shy" about promoting its attractiveness to business, he said, and pointed to them being the new home of the European Medicines Agency
He also criticised the UK for a lack of clarity in its negotiation position, pointing out that the UK said a customs union was a red line but now seems poised to sign up to a customs union of sorts.
None of this will come as a surprise to No 10, which hasn't managed to break the bastion of Barnier, as the Dutch king put it yesterday. No EU member state has truly broken ranks yet to fight Britain's corner from the other side. UK once hoped the Poles or Dutch would...
Even Mr Blok's small rays of optimism - he's confident a deal will be reached - are surrounded by some very gloomy clouds. Leaving the EU, especially the single market, has consequences, he says, and not good ones.
Missing some Tweet in this thread?
You can try to force a refresh.

Like this thread? Get email updates or save it to PDF!

Subscribe to James Rothwell
Profile picture

Get real-time email alerts when new unrolls are available from this author!

This content may be removed anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @JamesERothwell see all

Profile picture
Over past year I've spoken to MPs, experts and ministers in Norway and Iceland about what they really think of EEA/Efta membership. So here's a monster thread on the pros and cons of what could end up as the UK's Brexit Plan B
For those new to this (hi!), these countries are in the European Economic Area (EEA) which gives them full access to EU's single market. Their judiciary works under the Efta court, instead of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Hence "EEA/Efta".
In October I went to Oslo, where overall EEA/Efta was felt to be best compromise for a country that voted 52 per cent to stay out of EU and 48 per cent to join it.
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
Read 17 tweets
Profile picture
We are stuck. The risk of 'no deal' Brexit is greater than ever. Is it time to consider a compromise, and opt for a Norway-style Brexit? My latest, from Oslo - also in today's paper:
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
First, cards on the table: no it doesn't satisfy everyone. Yes it requires backstop/custom union. And yes it's far from ideal. Now that's out of the way...
(Also, this is going to be a long 'un because this was a fascinating assignment. Though I'm not giving it all away. Get a subscription for that, you barbarians)
Read 23 tweets
Profile picture
Per EU sources, things are not as chaotic as they seem...Dominic Raab walkout was no surprise to EU chiefs and part of No 10 "choreography" to send a message to home audience that May is a staunch defender of UK.
There was a "good" proposal from Olly Robbins on the backstop but there were two key issues with it and that's why there was no agreement over the weekend.
Problem 1: The EU didn't like UK attempt to drop a future relationship ingredient (all-UK customs union) into the mix of the divorce deal. I understand EU *will* accept a full UK customs union, but **only after** the backstop is agreed and signed.
Read 11 tweets

Related threads

Profile picture
#BREAKING
“EU just agreed to enact sanctions against an Iranian Intelligence Service for its assassination plots on European soil. Strong signal from the EU that we will not accept such behaviour in Europe,” Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said.
af.reuters.com/article/worldN…
#BREAKING
EU issues "targeted sanctions" against #Iran's regime in response to terror plots on European soil.
3)
 Reminder:
In October, France said there was no doubt #Iran’s Intelligence Ministry was behind a June plot to attack an exiled opposition (@iran_policy / @Mojahedineng) rally outside Paris.
reuters.com/article/us-fra…
Read 20 tweets
Profile picture
So we all know the Northern Ireland border is a big issue for #brexit. But what about all the other British territories that don't make the headlines? Let's try to gather them up!

1) The Falklands, where 94% of fishing exports go to the EU single market: independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
2) The Rock of Gibraltar, which voted remain but is firmly British Communities both sides of the border face 'economic disaster' if a deal cannot be reached: chronicle.gi/2018/10/at-un-… Apparently just 'small' issues like the the border and tax yet to be agreed..
3) The Caribbean island of Anguilla relies on free movement: economist.com/britain/2018/0… Its tourism & postal industries depend on EU flights to the French & Dutch halves of neighboring St Martin. Citizens get medical treatment on St Martin. Third of its capital budget came from EU.
Read 8 tweets
Profile picture
Dutch Prime Minister @markrutte has promised @number10gov the plans for the latest Fokker, when the Dutch will take over building the wings for Airbus at Schiphol East near Amsterdam. Rütte: “I always felt sorry for the Brits after they shot them selves in the foot with #brexit “ Airbus in Red Brexit bus liveryFifties looking design for a Fokker jet liner
The aviation deal @markrutte just signed with @theresa_may will allow Great Britain to continue supplying modern airliners to its ex-colonies now renamed #commonwealth
We feel the ‘all British F50 will be perfect for our CANZUK customers said international tease Secretary @liamfox
Read 3 tweets
Profile picture
"#Brexit and EU agencies", our extensive look into third country relationships of the 36 EU agencies and how the UK might fit in.

swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/cont…

Albeit largely technical, agencies will have huge implications on Brexit.

Five points stand out in particular:
First, Agencies matter. Like the customs union, they are a technical aspect of the EU, that works and was thus hardly discussed in the UK before #Brexit.
But they are important for single market, but also justice and home affairs.

UK gov thus has already asked to continue participation in selected agencies, in particular in sectors important to the UK economy, like aviation, chemicals or pharma.
Read 10 tweets
Profile picture
UK position paper on transition has leaked here: assets.bwbx.io/documents/user…

First major discussion point is of course that UK wants #Brexit transition to last until new relationship is in place.

3 things to learn from that:
a) A sense of realism is taking hold in Westminster on #Brexit. As long argued, a time limited transition is dangerous esp. for the UK, as it creates a new cliff edge. There is very little chance of a fully fledged future relationship negotiated, agreed and fully ratified by 2021
b) The EU strategy of making the UK ask for an extension has worked. If the EU had proposed this, it would have seemed like it wants to keep the UK close indefinitely.

Now it is clear that it is the UK, for economic reasons, that needs this potentially very long transition
Read 4 tweets
Profile picture
I'm currently at this #Brexit conference in Copenhagen, where the British ambassador and several #DExEU officials will be on panels with representatives of Danish trade and security. It'll be very interesting to see what's said, especially in light of May's recent Munich speech.
And now that I'm not desperately trying to keep up with livetweeting it, I shall turn my mess of self-retweets into a proper thread. #Brexit #BrexitDK
acknowledges #Brexit will have challenges; emphasises no naïveté regarding "land of milk and honey". Refreshing sense of pragmatism; we'll see how #DExEU and DK reps present it.

#BrexitDK
Read 55 tweets

Trending hashtags

#Brexit #Russia #GE2017 #Fraud #UK #Sberbank #leavernow #11b #DExEU #TrumpTower #brexit #Oxford #JC4PM2019 #Spain #4b #EURef #EU #SteveBannon #euco #challenge #NI #MoneyLaundering #LeaveEU #BrexitTaxHaven #4a

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just three indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member and get exclusive features!

Premium member ($30.00/year)

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!