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Tony Connelly @tconnellyRTE
, 4 tweets, 1 min read Read on Twitter
Latest on Brexit: the Sherpa meeting has concluded in Brussels and the Political Declaration text is now “closed”. Member states are keen to conclude the Gibraltar issue and that will take the form of a separate declaration or instrument...
This can be done relatively quickly, I’m told, possibly even today, but more likely tomorrow.
Poland also came with a late in the day demand that it wouldn’t have to pick up any of the climate change burden caused by the UK leaving. Warsaw was reassured that wouldn’t happen.
So, both the WA and the PD are now closed and ready for adoption by the EU27 on Sunday. Don’t expect any balloons or champagne corks popping. It will be a “sober” occasion, acc to one EU source.
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More from @tconnellyRTE see all

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Sooo...happy new year all. And back we are with more of the same. So here's a quick thread on this week's Brexit manoevrings:

1) The European Council on Dec 13 was pretty clear: clarification on the backstop, yes - but no legal instrument (Dublin was particularly against that)
2) Theresa May probably received some face to face nod from other EU leaders that there could be further assurances on the backstop, but nothing in writing. So when 2018 ended no meetings were envisaged, and nothing political or legal formally promised
3) There were phone calls in early New Year (May taling to Tusk, Juncker, Rutte etc) and official level contacts, but nothing of real substance appears to have emerged (there may also have been phone calls between @simoncoveney and David Lidington)
Read 13 tweets
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Commission: Today's package includes 14 measures in a limited number of areas where a "no-deal" scenario would create major disruption for citizens and businesses in the EU27. These areas include financial services, air transport, customs, and climate policy, amongst others.
“These measures will not – and cannot – mitigate the overall impact of a "no-deal" scenario, nor do they in any way compensate for the lack of stakeholder preparedness or replicate the full benefits of EU membership or the terms of any transition period, as provided for in the WA
“They are limited to specific areas where it is absolutely necessary to protect the vital interests of the EU and where preparedness measures on their own are not sufficient”
Read 3 tweets
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The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he was "very satisfied" with the EU's position on the Irish backstop at last night's summit meeting.
"We as the EU stand by the Withdrawal Agreement that was negotiated, we don't believe it's up for renegotiation, we're very keen to begin, as soon as it's ratified, talks on the future relationship, because we want to have a close relationship with the United Kingdom,"
"AS Europe we reaffirmed our commitment to the need for a backstop, and not just because it protects Ireland and ensures no hard border between NI and Ireland, thus protecting the peace process and the GFA, but also because it's a European issue too,
Read 6 tweets

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1) How much of a threat is the Spain/Gibraltar question to the #Brexit summit on Sunday? This issue has the potential to be either a) huge or b) to disappear in to a puff of smoke
2) Spain feels hoodwinked. Gibraltar is of huge national interest (and hurt pride) for many Spaniards. Many at the very least saw an opportunity with #Brexit to gain considerable influence over the Rock
3) At the beginning of #Brexit negotiations Spain was promised that no decisions could be taken over the future of Gibraltar without consultation with Spain which is why throughout the negotiations process, there have been bilateral Spain-U.K. talks in parallel
Read 14 tweets
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1) Ambassadors of 27 EU governments expected to see draft of political declaration on post #brexit EU-UK future this morning. Should start leaking out soon after if that is the case ..
2) PM’s suddenly scheduled extra meetings in Brussels on Saturday are, I suspect, part-choreography for U.K. domestic consumption to give sense of her battling the EU to win ‘concessions’ at the last moment
3) That said, there are issues on table - such as the PM insisting on language in political declaration implying that her Chequers #Brexit plan is not dead
Read 8 tweets
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1) PM says returning to Brussels on Saturday for more talks with JC Juncker and others to finalise text of #Brexit deal ahead of Sunday summit of EU leaders
2) But a number of EU countries saying their leaders not keen to come to Brussels summit if too many unresolved issues - eg Merkel and Macron
3) Theoretically then we could find out on Saturday after the PM’s Brussels meetings with Juncker and others that the seal the deal Sunday #Brexit summit has been cancelled
Read 7 tweets
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1) It’s 7.30 pm in Brussels and the political declaration on the future EU - U.K. relationship - scheduled to be pretty much finished today is not yet complete. Negotiations are ongoing
2) The PM is coming to Brussels tomorrow to discuss the text. She’s expected to push for some sense of her Chequers plan for #Brexit to be recognisable in the document
3) But now she’s not the only party doing the pushing. Spain is making demands over Gibraltar and France is fighting for fishing rights in U.K. waters after Brexit
Read 10 tweets
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1. Our current thinking is that the Chequers plan is totally unworkable. It is impractical and incompatible with EU and international law. The EU will reject it - but not immediately. It will use the time to plan for a no deal #Brexit
2. The general feeling, thanks to the propaganda of the Tory right is that the proposal is about as far as the UK can bend. This is odd because the proposal is not entirely dismiliar to some of the nonsense cooked up by pro-Brexit think tanks. Mrs May cannot win.
3. Mrs May could even adopt their alternative plans with some adjustments and the ultras would shift the goalposts again. They would cry betrayal at any concession. They are unappeasable. There is no deal they will support because they do not want a deal.
Read 20 tweets
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#Brexit Thread: a list of 20 random reasons why I voted to leave the EU

1. The impossibility of meaningful treaty reform. We cannot edit the supranationalist DNA of the EU
2. The exclusion of the public from decisions relating to further integration. See Treaty of Lisbon.
3. The way in which the EU will seek homogenisation and integration for its own sake and for that of EU ideology over practical necessity.
Read 22 tweets

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