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Some live-tweeting of this #2yrsArticle50 panel on the Art.50 negotiations 
.@JenniferMerode notes that there's no-one from the UK gvt, but hopes that if there's someone in the audience, they can stick up their hands in the Q&A
.@StefaanDeRynck opens with some comments on process to date
De Rynck: wasn't given that agreement would be reached at start of process, and despite some difficult patches, have been able to work constructively w UK gvt
De Rynck: not a conventional negotiation, as about disentanglement
De Rynck: 14 Nov Agt was best effort, with compromise on both sides. EU27 endorsed it
De Rynck: Guiding document has been initial mandate from EU27, setting out strategic choices. Important to note context of €-zone and migration crises, so desire to reaffirm core interests
De Rynck: orderly Brexit needed to laid groundwork for future relationship
De Rynck: some confusion about use of EU law in Brexit - just being used to disentangle UK from EU, not to create on-going commitments
De Rynck: no-deal is "really a likely scenario" today. A conclusion is needed, and no-deal is still default
Foster: Long clear that trilemma required backstop rather than May's triangulation: she never pushed why her approach was better than Corbyn's
Hagemann: EU is changing during this process (Marcon, NL, coming ES elections. etc.). Brexit is an issue that needs to be contained in these changes, so part of picture
Hagemann: UK leaving is not just any state leaving - economy, vocal supporter of rule of law, etc. So only surprise from MS that UK chooses a hard Brexit
Hagemann: no-deal seen as realistic possibility in EU27. Now reflection of how to handle negotiations in that scenario
And final panellist is @faisalislam
Core misperception in UK that EU values trade more than core values
Core misperception in UK that EU values trade more than core values
Islam: EU has suffered from assuming UK has institutions of fully-functioning democracy
Islam: core of any negotiation is your BATNA. Needs to be credible and UK gvt hasn't presented clear understanding of their's
Islam: lots of re-purposing of decisions (Parliament vote to notify, MV) as situation moves on
Islam: May had opportunity post-#GE17 to reset domestic side
Islam: repeated instances of May not being frank about realities of negotiations
Islam: apparent complete lack of understanding about what UK-US FTA might involve
Now Q&A
@StefaanDeRynck - sequencing was a mistake: Pol Dec could have been clearer and future relationship cld have been discussed soon, but UK had no position to discuss. Not for EU to decide for UK
@StefaanDeRynck - sequencing was a mistake: Pol Dec could have been clearer and future relationship cld have been discussed soon, but UK had no position to discuss. Not for EU to decide for UK
.@StefaanDeRynck: if no-deal, EU will 'act unilaterally to protect its interests'. Legislation in place, tariffs will be applying at border, etc.
And no negotiation with UK. 'have to avoid picking up pieces'
And no negotiation with UK. 'have to avoid picking up pieces'
.@StefaanDeRynck reminds that Pol Dec is scoping document of no-binding nature, so much flexibility
.@sarahagemann notes that compromises in WA extend beyond backstop's temporary customs arrangement. EU has given ground elsewhere (e.g. CFP), but often not recognised
.@pmdfoster stresses that if vote fails today, then should be prepared for 'glidepath to no-deal'
And we're done. more from other panels later. Follow the debate on #2yrsArticle50 [and yes, I will be having words with the office about that hashtag]
