Thread by @JamesCrisp6

Ok here is a steaming hot take on the exchange of letters offering assurances over the Irish border backstop. First impressions are that EU trying to help with talk of discuss “alternative arrangements “ ie tech solutions to Irish border, once dismissed as ‘magical thinking’
1/

In May’s letter to Tusk and Juncker, she reminds them she suggested a legal commitment to have future relationship talks end by 2021 at the latest.

Tusk and Juncker don’t mention this in their response. It aint going to happen, which we knew already.

2/

May asks for exploratory trade talks to start as soon as Withdrawal agreement is signed. She asks for "particular urgency' for tech solutions to border, wants EU to stress legal link between political declaration & WA
3/

4/ She also ask for draft trade deal to be applied rather than the backstop if it is not ratified by the end of 2020 deadline.

So what did May get from Juncker and Tusk?

First off, she is reminded "we are not in a position to agree to anything that changes or is inconsistent with the Withdrawal Agreement"

5/

They point out that the Dec European Council conclusions have some legal weight and that they promise speedy work on alternative arrangements arrangements, so that the backstopwill not need to be triggered.
6/

Go on to repeat the conclusions of the summit, which essentially just repeats assurances from WA> that the backstop will only last until a better solution is found. Insist conclusions "may commit the European Union in the most solemn manner" (unless council changes its mind..)
7/

EU offers to publish the WA and pol dec next to each other in the Official Journal of the EU to highlight close legal link.

"it can be made clear that these two documents, while being of a different
nature, are part of the same negotiated package "

No convincing link then

8/

EU says it is ready to start exploratory talks as soon as WA is signed and full talks after Brexit day. It says it will propose provisional application of trade deal to avoid backstop if ratification still pending, as is usual in trade agreements. Something for May there
9/

.

Here is the magical thinking par... will it appease Brexiteers or inspire some impassioned "i told you so's"?

10/

Rest of letter is EU saying it doesn't want backstop triggered ( it is "suboptimal" trading relationship) but if it is commission will do all it can to get UK out of it asap.

No legally binding commitments as asked for by PM but some window dressing..

ends