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Senior EU official: “It is not only the hour of truth for Madame May it is also a rendezvous with history for Jeremy Corbyn.”
So what does the EU think about Labour’s Brexit plan?
So what does the EU think about Labour’s Brexit plan?
2. Labour wants “permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union”, including a say in future trade deals.
Not clear what “a say” means, but EU has ruled giving any non-member state a seat at the table in EU trade talks. Consultation maybe.
Not clear what “a say” means, but EU has ruled giving any non-member state a seat at the table in EU trade talks. Consultation maybe.
3. As @anandmenon and others point out, trade is exclusive EU competence. And nobody wants to start reopening EU treaties (least of all for exiting country).
4. Labour wants "close alignment with the single market, underpinned by “shared institutions”.
That sounds like Chequers, so the EU will say no.
Back to the old in-out choice. No cherry-picking, strictly no cake.
That sounds like Chequers, so the EU will say no.
Back to the old in-out choice. No cherry-picking, strictly no cake.
5. If Labour wants to be in the single market, it will have to sign up to EU state-aid rules.
“Corbyn will have to come out of the closet and say we accept single market rules,” says the official.
“Corbyn will have to come out of the closet and say we accept single market rules,” says the official.
6. Labour wants “dynamic alignment on rights and protections”, so that UK standards do not fall behind those of the EU.
In fact, this wd be essential for m/ship of customs union and single market.
In fact, this wd be essential for m/ship of customs union and single market.
7. European firms don’t want a big competitor not obeying rules, including state aid. Vital issue for French, Germans, Irish, Dutch, Danes.
8. Labour wants “clear commitments on future UK participation in EU agencies and funding programmes”.
Depends on the ask. Non-EU countries can join EU programmes if they pay, e.g. research.
Depends on the ask. Non-EU countries can join EU programmes if they pay, e.g. research.
9. EEA and Switzerland participate in various EU agencies (w/o voting rights).
But EU diplomats sound wary of letting UK into agencies. Negotiations could be long. I'm not convinced such a big promise could be agreed in PD.
But EU diplomats sound wary of letting UK into agencies. Negotiations could be long. I'm not convinced such a big promise could be agreed in PD.
10. Labour wants “unambiguous agreements on future security arrangements, such as use of the European arrest warrant”.
Not clear what this means. Security cooperation is the easier bit of Brexit, but that doesn’t make it easy.
Not clear what this means. Security cooperation is the easier bit of Brexit, but that doesn’t make it easy.
11. Some really tricky issues about extending European arrest warrant to non-EU countries -
see more here. That's why Labour MEPs worried about return to "Costa del Crime".
theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/m…
see more here. That's why Labour MEPs worried about return to "Costa del Crime".
theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/m…
12. Convenient for Labour and EU to suggest current impasse could be solved by a rewritten political declaration.
Even if there was time (there isn’t) impossible to see the EU agreeing to Labour’s wishlist.
Even if there was time (there isn’t) impossible to see the EU agreeing to Labour’s wishlist.
