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Georgina Wright
@GeorginaEWright
, 8 tweets, 3 min read Read on Twitter
.@JunckerEU and @MichelBarnier addressing @EUparliament on Brexit - main points
1. Backstop proposals: EU still waiting for proposals but confirm that talks have been taking place (though focuses more on what the UK doesn’t want, rather than what it actually does want)
2. Constructive talks: with PM in Luxembourg and “in part” positive. Translation: talk is easy, finding a deal less so.
3. No deal would not be the end of negotiations: same problems wd need to be resolved (and quickly) and UK & EU should not underestimate disruption
4. Business uncertainty: @ManfredWeber says it’s not UK that is leaving but businesses & people
5. Yellowhammer: (some) MEPs clearly following what is happening in the UK. One suggests it has damaged PM’s Brexit vision.
6. EU unity: @guyverhofstadt suggests Brexit has brought EU together and increase popularity of EU Parliament (hmm..).
Logging off to listen to our WTO event @instituteforgov. Main takeaways from EU Parliament #Brexit debate to far: same messages (EU want a deal but waiting for UK to put fwd proposals), mix of surprise and irritation & closely following dvps in Westminster. END.
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Georgina Wright
@GeorginaEWright
Baffling that many in Britain *still* think Merkel will be the one to help get a #Brexit deal over the line. Yes, Merkel wants a deal as do EU27. But there are limits to what EU leaders can do (short thread):
1. EU leaders have final say, but @EU_Commission negotiates: EU Commission discusses positions with EU27 before & after *each* negotiating round (and is in regular contact with @Europarl_EN & others). EU Commission is not 1 actor among 28, it negotiates on behalf of 27.
2. Feasibility of deal: so if @EU_Commission say "no", it's usually cos EU27 have said no. Yes, there are times when EU leaders are more involved (and they will definitely be more involved in trade & sec talks). But to assume they will have radically different position is.. silly
Read 8 tweets
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Georgina Wright
@GeorginaEWright
Lux's PM @Xavier_Bettel provides further #Brexit clarity:
1. EU27 want more than a vision (and a promise): they want workable alternatives to the backstop.
2. Extension only possible if it serves a purpose: that is to make a decision, not delay it.
@Xavier_Bettel 3. @Xavier_Bettel clear that ball is in UK court: UK voted to leave, UK now wants to change the deal - then UK must come up with proposals.
4. He also says his wish is to reach a deal - and adds (with a slight note of irritation?): EU respects ref outcome & is not trying to keep UK inside EU
Read 5 tweets
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Georgina Wright
@GeorginaEWright
Lots of talk about EU changing its position on #Brexit. Are they? Short thread
1. Consistency: “May’s” deal is outcome of *months* of negotiations - where both sides gave in. If UK wants to improve it, then UK must be one to table proposals - and these must respect SM & solve border. Y’day, @MichelBarnier said EU had not seen any.
2. Backstop: EU always said backstop wd only apply “unless and until” alternatives were found- but these alternatives don’t exit yet! So their view is backstop needs to stay.
Read 9 tweets

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katya adler
@BBCkatyaadler
Brexit secretary Steve Barclay gave talk in Madrid this morning warning Spaniards of a threat to Spanish sherry, manchego cheese and more in case of no deal #Brexit He said EU had to be less rigid and more creative in finding a deal with Boris Johnson’s gov. /1
The Brexit Secretary pointed to the transition period that would follow a deal and says that was a time to work out alternatives to the backstop BUT EU has said over and again it won’t sign a deal unless it’s satisfied an agreed alternative to the backstop is already on paper /2
Can’t see EU moving from that position bc if it does that will be falling to comply with its own arguament on why backstop/border backup is necessary: protect EU member Ireland and single market and peace process incl all Ireland economy + N/S co-op /3
Read 4 tweets
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katya adler
@BBCkatyaadler
EU trying to digest this morning what exactly last night means for negotiations. Le Monde article below starts with words: « Another crazy day in Brexitland » /1
EU mood the morning after the night before is bittersweet. EU leaders glad to see rejection in parliament of no deal (+ there’s thinly-veiled Schadenfreude about Johnson’s defeat. The man who EU heard saying you just need more oomph and positive thinking to make a deal..)BUT /2
EU repeats what said last time parliament voted against no deal: the only way to ban no deal is to make a deal with EU or cancel #Brexit otherwise no deal happens by default /3
Read 11 tweets
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Peter Foster
@pmdfoster
.@MichelBarnier crystal clear in piece for @Telegraph - EU will look at alternative arrangements “that achieve the same objectives of the backstop” - to wit - protecting EU single market while keeping border “fully open”. 1/

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/…
Perhaps unsurprising therefore - given @BorisJohnson red lines on removing backstop, while dismissing time-limits, exit mechanisms or the “dedramatised” NI-only backstop the EU suggested, that Barnier is “not optimistic” about avoiding ‘no deal’. /2
There are a couple of pieces of mild mischief.

First his noting democratic support for NI for the supposedly “un democratic” backstop. /3
Read 8 tweets
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katya adler
@BBCkatyaadler
EU watching Westminster closely this week but not rushing to any
conclusions. Here is some of the key thinking in European capitals on
the main #Brexit issues of the day: /1
On Labour/second referendum: Corbyn seen in Europe as convinced
eurosceptic so EU is sceptical of his backing a second referendum. EU
has watched #Brexit turmoil long enough to see huge complications in
holding the vote and realise many leave voters have changed their
mind. /2
Of course EU would still rather UK stayed but Europe's leaders don't
see this as realistically on the cards right now. Most realistic,
considering turmoil in Westminster, says EU council President Tusk:
would be to extend article 50 leaving process. /3
Read 11 tweets
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Camino Mortera
@CaminoMortera
@MichelBarnier, addressing a Spanish audience, cuts to the chase: withdrawal agreement is the best possible for citizens and budget but also for aviation and fisheries.
The UK has grossly underestimated the consequences of #Brexit, says Barnier. It will need to build up a whole new administration in very little time.
#GibraltarWatch: Barnier, in Madrid: “There is a protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement saying what will happen with #Gibraltar.” Now, moving on to the more important question of Ireland...
Read 9 tweets
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Katy Hayward
@hayward_katy
104 pages of the #Brexit #WhitePaper reduced to 10 slides.
Especially for those concerned for @BorderIrish, @BelfastAgmt,
& with more sense than time.

@DPhinnemore & I have scrutinised the WP in light of #JointReport commitments to NI/IRL & the UK's alternative #backstop.
1/10
A bit of context-setting (plus explanation of our imaginative colour coding).

The White Paper is in part an effort by UK govt to prove a NI-specific #backstop to be unnecessary. But remember Protocol for NI/IRL in the Withdrawal Agmt is abt much more than a customs border.

2/10
A reminder of where we are up to on that Protocol on NI/IRL in the draft Withdrawal Agreement.

With added stars 🌟 to identify which bits the White Paper attempts to address (or negate) most directly.

3/10
Read 11 tweets

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