Thread by @perth4europe

Just about to start watching @euromovescot's panel discussion, "EU Views of the UK and Scotland Post-Brexit".

We'll be tweeting out some of the major points as we're able, so please keep an eye out for follow-up tweets.

#EUViewsUK

Introduction by @marklazarowicz of today's speakers: @GilesMerritt, @NicolePirozzi, @NvOndarza, and @KirstyS_Hughes.

Just to note that the event is in association with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation @KASonline and the Scottish Centre on European Relations @SCER_eu.

First speaker @GilesMerritt states the focus on the EU side is now switching to security cooperation and financial services, as these haven't been given much attention so far.

EU is also going to be looking at both post-Covid recovery and relations with a new US President.

In this context, UK will seem "small and isolated", and it looks from Brussels like "the lunatics have truly taken over the asylum".

#EUviewsUK

@NicolePirozzi is tonight's second speaker, and starts by saying that the UK Government's "deeply ideological" attitude is what's hampering negotiations.

Says that EU27 Member States have been "remarkably cohesive" in their support for the Commission's negotiation strategies.

Voices a worry that London will continue to try to undermine and disunite the European Union's cohesion.

Says that there is an ideological gap between concepts of sovereignty as the UK and the EU understand them.

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@NvOndarza starts by looking at some polling from Germany showing that while the German public is, overwhelmingly, sad to see the UK go, that doesn't mean there is support for a soft negotiation stance re Brexit.

Priority is integrity of the Single Market and NI border.

Further polling that shows trust in the UK as a partner only declined dramatically in the past two years.

Brexit itself made a mark, but the events of 2019/2020, and the UK's behaviour therein, were especially harmful to trust.

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@NvOndarza states that there has been a "marked change" in views on Scotland and independence recently, but no outright support.

Says that FM Nicola Sturgeon has been seen as a "committed European", and that Scotland's vote to Remain was most certainly noted in the EU.

Finishing up the main talks section with @KirstyS_Hughes.

First off, EU views on the UK: says that when you ask people in Europe about their views on the UK, people often start off discussing positive experiences of the UK as a Member State.

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More negatively, the people who @KirstyS_Hughes spoke to were also saying that the UK's "political deterioration" is "extraordinary and baffling".

Worst of all, UK's willingness to break agreements and international law has "deeply shocked" people.

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She asked a number of interviewees about the UK rejoining under a different government:

"On the whole people didn't want to say no, but they thought it would take a very long time".

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Now looking at EU views on Scotland: says that there is a lot of sympathy, and a strong acknowledgement of Scotland's vote in 2016, but that it often isn't high on people's agenda or in their thoughts.

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@KirstyS_Hughes says a distinction is drawn between views on Scotland, and views on the UK dissolving more generally.

A noted aversion to the prospect of more instability, but also pragmatic view as to the question of Scottish accession, so long as matters are all above-board.

Now moving on to Q&A section, so tweets might be a bit slower.

In response to a question, @GilesMerritt says that the behaviour of Boris Johnson's government hasn't put the UK on a "permanent blacklist", but it severely hampers any positive relationship.

"So long as there is a Eurosceptic govt in UK, there will be an Anglosceptic Europe."

@NicolePirozzi says that trust in the UK Government has been "dramatically undermined" by its actions of late.

Also notes some expectation that Scottish accession would be more straightforward than some other recent ones, but that there are still important steps to go through.

In response to another question, @NvOndarza says there has been a "sudden resurgence of Atlanticism" in Germany with Biden becoming President-elect.

Increased prospect of progress and cooperation re climate, security, etc.

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@KirstyS_Hughes highlights Scotland's renewables sector as a important factor regarding how the EU might view a potential Scottish accession.

Notes that it could be a major contribution as a Member State, which may increase positivity towards the prospect.

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Further questions popping up: re Scotland adopting the Euro, @NicolePirozzi says that it would be something that could "ease the transition", but that there are numerous things to consider before that comes up on the agenda.

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@NvOndarza points out that a requirement for joining the Euro is for a Member State to have their own currency.

Also says that if it comes down to it, there would likely be understanding about Scotland having an opt-out on Schengen, for similar reasons to Ireland.

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@KirstyS_Hughes, in response to a question re EEA/EFTA, asks "If you want to be an independent nation, why would you choose that option?"

Notes that Scotland as a full EU member would have far more say in both its own and the EU's future than in the EEA/EFTA.

#EUViewsUK

@GilesMerritt makes a very good point to finish the talk: it shouldn't be presumed that the world will be the same next year as it is now or before - concepts of how to handle debt and economics may have been changed utterly by the pandemic and its knock-on effects.

#EUViewsUK

And that's all, folks.

Many thanks to @euromovescot, @SCER_eu, and @KAS_UKIRL for organising the event.

Cheers also to the chair, @marklazarowicz, and panelists @GilesMerritt, @NicolePirozzi, @NvOndarza and @KirstyS_Hughes.

All of the above are well worth a follow.

#EUViewsUK