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Leo Varadkar @campaignforleo
, 8 tweets, 3 min read Read on Twitter
I am pleased an agreement has been reached between EU & UK negotiators on a draft #Brexit Withdrawal Treaty. While I welcome these developments, Brexit is not our policy & is something we regret. However we respect the vote of the people of the UK.
Our national priorities are:
- protecting the Good Friday Agreement.
- maintaining the Common Travel Area & related benefits
- reaffirming our place at the heart of the EU
- protecting trade, jobs and the economy
On each of these, we have reached a satisfactory outcome today.
Avoiding a hard border has proven to be one of the most difficult challenges. What has become know as “the backstop” is now fully spelt out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The backstop would apply “unless and until” a better solution is agreed.
These negotiations have been a tough, difficult experience for everyone involved. I want to acknowledge Prime Minister May’s integrity in honouring her promise to protect the Peace Process & Good Friday Agreement. She has been true to her word.
The Withdrawal Agreement states in black and white that Ireland & the EU fully respect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the UK, and that this can only change if the majority of people in NI want it to.
I am extremely grateful for the continued solidarity of the other Member States, our fellow members of the European Council, European Parliament and the Commission. In particular I want to again acknowledge the professionalism of @MichelBarnier and his team.
I also want to recognise my Govt colleagues, in particular Tánaiste @simoncoveney and Minister @HMcEntee and all the ministers and officials who have worked to secure today’s outcome.
This is not an end point. The full text of the Withdrawal Agreement - all 500 pages - will be scrutinised in the coming days. There is still a long way to go but I believe the draft agreement published today is a very solid step on the journey.
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#Brexit #thread
1/ If you don’t follow Brexit every day, here’s some advice. Let go of any illusions that this drama is about trade protocols, residency rights or the status of the Irish border. Brexit is the story of a proud former imperial power undergoing a mid-life crisis
2/ The rest of the world is left listening to Britain’s therapy session as they drone on about their ex-spouse, unable to see, admit or address their own flaws.
3/ The promise of Brexit was that it would make Britain feel big again. “Britain is special,” the Brexiteers assured British voters, who cast their ballots accordingly. But Brexit has proven that for the first time in modern history, Britain is small.
Read 22 tweets
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Again, at such a key moment in UK and at such high political levels, evidence of deep misunderstanding of EU: The PM is under pressure in some quarters to delay #Brexit vote to allow her first to “improve” deal in Brussels BUT EU is determined not to budge at this stage
2) All EU leaders watching tomorrow’s vote. Of course they want to avoid a no deal #Brexit BUT they feel the deal - so painfully negotiated between EU and UK - is too fresh to re-open. Clarifications, yes but fundamental renegotiations, no.
3) The EU’s international reputation as a tough deal-maker is at stake here too. If Brussels now suddenly “gives in” to U.K. on EU red lines (eg backstop) then that would weaken the EU’s reputation in future trade negotiations with other non EU countries
Read 6 tweets
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1. The ERG have proven adept at making noise but they don't seem to be able to grasp policy. They get shot down every time they put their heads above the parapet and they have not been able to produce a credible alternative to chequers. #Brexit thread...
2. With philandering Johnson having blown his window of opportunity and the ERG seemingly backing down it looks like May will survive until Brexit day. That, though, does not change the fact that Chequers is a non-starter.
3. So given that member states are not prepared for a no deal Brexit any more than we are the Eu will want to buy time so will agree to a much more vague political statement on trade just to get the withdrawal agreement in the bag. That will still require an NI backstop.
Read 10 tweets
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Here's a thread attempting to set out the #Brexit timetable for the next few months, based on this insightful @brunobrussels article:
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/a…
Salzburg Summit 20 Sept:
"Shouting over the “backstop” + starting point of a '“political declaration” on the future relationship that will be thrashed out at a sequence of summits'
Tory party conference 1-3 Oct:
Hoping "Boris Johnson and the Brexiteers in the Conservative European Research Group" do not do anything to prevent the next planned steps
Read 12 tweets
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EU diplomats shrug at what they view as U.K. hysteria over Canada+ or Chequers #Brexit debate. The EU says the choice was never the UK’s alone 1
EU viewsChequers as a U.K. government position. Not an end in itself. Brussels aim: to navigate between Chequers and EU red lines.. 2
Accusation I often hear in Brussels is that U.K. Brexit negotiators are fine wordsmiths but that there’s often little meaning behind the words 3
Read 19 tweets
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Unless their position evolves, the red lines of the UK today only allow for one type of relationship; that of a third country. The @Europarl_EN has outlined its proposal for a close association agreement, now it's up to the UK to ask for one. #Brexit
Brexit is a difficult issue that needs to be handled delicately. Ultimately, it concerns people & their families. We have a duty to get it right. But let's also be clear. Change will happen. Our role is to reduce the turmoil where possible.
I am far from happy with the treatment of UK citizens in the EU27. Most Member States have not yet started the process or procedures. The @Europarl_EN will remain very vigilant on this. As we will also on the so called onward movement question. @EURightsAgency
Read 3 tweets

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