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23 Nov, 18 tweets, 10 min read
One of the things that has perplexed me about the current #Brexit impasse has been how passive the European Parliament has been in public

This tweet today from Bernd Lange was about the first sign of exasperation I have seen:
Don't get me wrong - there might be good reason for not saying anything. But had Verhofstadt still been doing Brexit coordination for the EP you can be sure it would not be this quiet!
The EP has a "UK Coordination Group"

More info about it, and its members:
europarl.europa.eu/ukcg/en/about/…

In this thread a summary of what the MEPs in it have (not) said about Brexit, based on Tweets and their own websites...
David McAllister
EPP, DE
@davidmcallister

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: 3 Nov
Comment on delay: None

Relevant website page:
david-mcallister.de/category/aktue…
Comment on delay: None
Bernd Lange
S&D, DE
@berndlange

Relevant tweet today:


Relevant website page:
bernd-lange.de/meldungen
Comment on delay: none
Nathalie Loiseau
Renew, FR
@NathalieLoiseau

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: 20 Nov
Comment on delay: None

Has no website.
Antonio Tajani
EPP, IT
@Antonio_Tajani

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: 6 Nov
Comment on delay: None

Has no website.
Christophe Hansen
EPP, LU
@CHansenEU

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Oct 21
Comment on delay: None

Relevant website page: christophehanseneu.lu/aktualiteit/
Comment on delay: none
Kati Piri
S&D, NL
@katipiri

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Sep 7
Comment on delay: None

Relevant website page: katipiri.nl
Comment on delay: none
Kris Peeters
EPP, BE
@peeters_kris1

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Nov 10
Comment on delay: None

Relevant website page: krispeeters.be/artikels/brexit
Comment on delay: none
Morten Helveg Petersen
Renew, DK
@mortenhelveg

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Nov 20
Comment on delay: None

Relevant website page: helveg.radikale.dk/nyheder
Comment on delay: none
Gunnar Beck
ID, DE
@gunnar_beck

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Nov 13
Comment on delay: None - although ID might see an advantage of it all going wrong

Has no website AFAIK.
Philippe Lamberts
Greens-EFA, BE
@PH_lamberts

Twitter search:
twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Sep 7
Comment on delay: none

Relevant website page:
philippelamberts.eu/category/archi…
Comment on delay: none
Derk Jan Eppink
ECR, NL
@djeppink

Twitter search: twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Oct 29
Comment on delay: none

Has no website AFAIK.
Martin Schirdewan
GUE-NGL, DE
@schirdewan

Twitter search: twitter.com/search?q=brexi…

Last tweet on Brexit: Nov 13
Comment on delay: has made a demand for an orderly approach from the UK

Relevant website page:
martin-schirdewan.eu/typ/pressemitt…
Comment on delay: none
Latest on the EP website about Brexit: 21 Oct
europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headli…
OK, I admit that this research of mine is perhaps not the most complete - there might be other sources and quotes somewhere buried in newspapers or news portals.
However I cannot escape the impression that - in public at least - in this stage of Brexit, the EP is not playing an active role.

If a Brexit Deal does emerge then the EP is going to have to rubber stamp it (or not) but has not been an active public player.

/ends

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This evening the EU's Heads of State and Government are meeting via #EUCO video call

#Brexit is not formally on the agenda, but let's look at how some of the key players in the Brexit end game are feeling just now...
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Nervously waiting. Cannot bear to take a decision. Hoping something will come along to save him.
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19 Nov
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If the UK asks for this now, the EU's going to go 🤣 we offered you this - 2 years if you wanted it! - and you refused in June. Do tell us why we should give this to you now please?
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The EU could offer such periods to the UK, but there would be a political and even possibly a direct financial price demanded from the EU for that - and that I suspect is something the UK side is not going to contemplate.
Read 4 tweets
Jon Worth Profile picture
18 Nov
The logic of No Deal for Johnson

A thread
When the transition period ends in 6 weeks, the UK can move to a thin trade Deal with the EU, or No Deal

Both options are practically fraught
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My timeline is full of earnest think tankers saying thinks along the lines of "Boris Johnson wants a Deal because he wants a success" and "Business / the economy wants a Deal, so Johnson does"

I am really far from sure this is the case

Here's why
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A Deal is better for the economy

= Johnson will aim for Deal
But this does not hold

The changes to the WA, and the NI Protocol, that Johnson agreed last year were *more damaging* to the economy than May's Deal

Hard Brexit that Johnson has long advocated is more damaging to the economy than a Soft Brexit
Read 13 tweets

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