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UK empty chair watch

Middle East minister Andrew Murrison is attending today's EU foreign affairs council discussing Syria/Turkey, Afghanistan and much more.
Ukrep deputy ambassador Katrina Williams is attending today's agriculture and fisheries council.

Topics: CAP and fisheries fund post 2020, EU-Norway talks (more relevant? to Brexit UK), EU forest protection plans and more.
Senior civil servant that leads relations with foreign finance ministries Mark Bowman attended last week's Ecofin council.

Agenda covered EU anti-money laundering plan, EU climate and development finance and more.
Despite Boris Johnson's pledge to stop attending "most" EU meetings from 1 September, UK continues to attend fair number of ministerial meetings, albeit not always sending a minister (which isn't unusual for any member state).

Background: theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Empty chair watch: Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay has arrived in Luxembourg for the EU general affairs council about .... EU enlargement (among other subjects).
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More from @JenniferMerode see all

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Jennifer Rankin
@JenniferMerode
Boris Johnson talked about his Brussels school years when he met EU leaders today. He also told them the UK had always been half in/half out.

The meeting took around 25 minutes.
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
His main message was that he could get the votes in parliament.
Exuded confidence and ready to answer EU27 questions about the Benn Act

But EU leaders are not convinced. They just don't know, but didn't discuss extension in detail.
Hat tip @GuardianHeather we know that one of the last hurdles to the EU-UK deal was.... a VAT derogation for sanitary products.

David Cameron fought a similar battle in 2016, bringing the issue to European council.
Read 3 tweets
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Jennifer Rankin
@JenniferMerode
Barely four hours to go until a(nother) Brexit crunch summit and EU member states have not seen any legal text.

"Maybe we will have a deal, or maybe not," says senior EU official, who adds that when Brexit is on the agenda "we should expect the unexpected"
Lack of legal text will be a problem for EU leaders. EU officials will want to pore over the details before leaders sign anything off. "This is an ancient tradition and we are not ready to change it," says source.
EU in the dark about Westminster process.

Source: "We were told in 2018 by the UK government that the ratification takes six months; In the beginning of 2019 we were told it takes six weeks and the latest is that a few days is more than enough. So we will see."
Read 5 tweets
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Jennifer Rankin
@JenniferMerode
Michel Barnier told EU27 ambassadors important progress had been made on Brexit, but two sides not there yet.

Boris Johnson has made three big concessions to make this possible, but EU fears parliament could still block. EU27 have not seen the text. Time is running out.
1.
Concession No1. (most surprising)
The Level Playing Field is back. Boris Johnson has agreed that the UK must be in line with EU norms on climate, environment and workers’ rights for a Free Trade Agreement.
2.
Michel Barnier has always said UK’s proximity and size means LFP was much more important than distant countries such as Canada and Korea. EU diplomats had fretted about Singapore on Thames. Tonight MB told them he had guarantees for fair competition for an FTA
3.
Read 12 tweets

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Sibel Edmonds
@sibeledmonds
Exclusive Report- “Turkish Colonel Exposes it All- From #Syria War to Plans for New #ISIS Terror Attacks in #EU!” with Sibel Edmonds via #Newsbud. Newsbud Members Watch Here: bit.ly/2JhGnRv
@obasibuyuk90 This is the #YouTube preview video for the explosive expose by Colonel Basibuyuk via Newsbud’s Sibel Edmonds. For full episode subscribe to and watch at #Newsbud:
@obasibuyuk90 Highly-probable #ISIS #FalseFlag attacks in #EU being concocted by “certain” nations’ intel op to drag #USA back into #Syria. Find out Who-What-How & Why here at #Newsbud: bit.ly/2JhGnRv
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iamtalhaerhan
@iamtalhaerhan
@realDonaldTrump USA (Obama) and EU backed terrorist allies PKK/YPG/SDF is carry on an annhiliation project at ME.
Do you want to see who you backed in Syria. Ok follow this thread.
@realDonaldTrump Terrorist groups, as you seen below PKK=YPG=SDF. But corrupted media’s fake news do not broadcast these.

Terrorists were/are attacking and killing innocent Turkish citizens via terror attacks on NATO ally soils.

CORRUPTED MEDIA RESPONSIBLE! Proof
@realDonaldTrump Obama and CORRUPTED MEDIA are responsible from war crimes of YPG/PKK/SDF. Turkey is going to stop these terrorists groups and war crimes to end the suffer of Syrian people.
And shame for defending terrorists comitted war crimes. washingtonpost.com/news/worldview…
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Giuseppe Famà
@FamaNelMondo
Incoming #EU High Rep @JosepBorrellF’s first speech gave us a glimpse of #EUdiplomacy’s next 5 years. #EPhearings2019

His endorsement by the Parliament was never in doubt. Still, Borrell’s energetic speech went further than expected.

👇THREAD:

twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…
2/ Borrell shared views with his trademark outspoken tone and all the famed sides of his character:

☞ The mature #EU integration enthusiast and former European Parliament President

☞ The responsible internationalist development buff

☞ The assertive Spanish foreign minister
3/ Borrell raised a shield in defence of the rule-based multilateral order, pointing to Ukraine as evidence of the dangers ahead if it keeps unraveling.

The sub-text: ‘I am not just talking about Moscow being unilateral, Mr Trump’.

ecfr.eu/publications/s…
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Filomena Rocha
@Filomen03258997
1. And now I'm going to tell a story. Another false flag. This time is to force @POTUS not to take the US army out of #Syria.
They already have a lot of experience (8 years) to make chemical attacks to accuse the Syrian government.
OH, and they even have a manual.🧐😲🤨
@RandPaul
2. ISIS terrorist? 😲Seriously?🤨 Have they investigated? 🤓And they already know who it was? 🧐Super efficient 🙃.

Preliminary reports say at least six people were killed & 19 injured by the explosion. US official: 4 US army Killed & 3 US army wounded.
aml.ink/Vstv5
3. ISIS took responsability?😲Seriously?🤨Have they investigated?🤓They already know who it was? 🧐Super efficient 🙃.

The Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) took responsibility for the attack that reportedly targeted the US-led coalition’s patrol.
aml.ink/QrEkD
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Eva J. Koulouriotis - إيفا كولوريوتي
@evacool_
The map of Syria
Turkish President #Erdogan will meet with his Russian counterpart on January 23 to discuss the future of the Syrian east and the city of Manbij. This comes after a telephone conversation between Erdogan and #Trump before yesterday.1/12
#Syria #Turkey #USA #Russia
With the scrutiny of the Turkish, American, Kurdish and Russian military movements in the Syrian east and its surroundings, it is now possible to develop a scenario that will be closest to what will be the map of the Syrian East.2/12
#Syria #Turkey #USA #Russia #Iran #Israel
In a secret visit to #Ankara a few days ago, a Syrian delegation led by Ahmed al-#Jarba, a leader of a military group of Arabs supported by the International Coalition and #Washington, arrived from the areas of #SDF.3/12
#Syria #Turkey #USA #Russia #Iran #Israel
Read 12 tweets
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Charles Lister
@Charles_Lister
Preparations appear to be underway for a pro-#Assad offensive on #Idlib.

12hrs of on/off air & artillery strikes vs. southeastern & western #Idlib & northern #Hama - see marks on map (original by @ETANA_Syria + my additions).

+ multiple large pro-regime convoys moving north.
@ETANA_Syria #pt: If/when any major military campaign gets underway, expect the #Assad regime (+ #Russia & #Iran-backed militias) to focus on these 2 fronts:

1) West #Idlib (Jisr al-Shughour)
2) N. #Hama/#SE #Idlib (Latamineh, Khan Sheikhoun, Kafrazita)

-> a gradual push ‘inland’ & north.
@ETANA_Syria Very good by @theIRC’s @DMiliband:

- The West must “re-assert” itself & protect civilians in NW #Syria & as a backstop, safe-routes should be opened for civilians to flee into #Turkey.

- UNSC must demand full access to S #Syria; for aid, monitoring etc.

washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-w…
Read 83 tweets

Trending hashtags

#FalseFlags #Imperialism #DeepState #DAESH #Latakia #Moscow #NATO #WestBank #US #Turkey #CrimesAgainstChildren #Syria #Aleppo #Hama #Ceasefire #UnitedNations #Ukraine #British #Iraq #Afghans #Russia #FSA #alShabaab #Kurds #Rusal
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