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17 May, 7 tweets, 2 min read
This is what’s happening at UK borders to some EU citizens, who until 137 days ago could come and go freely in and out of the UK to visit, live or work.

Some really horrific stories in here.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/m…
I think it's worth pointing out the context that the article doesn't spell out very clearly: it appears all these people were detained because it was suspected they would try to work in the UK or otherwise overstay a tourist visa.

That new reality is here to stay no matter what.
I suspect the super-harsh treatment of Europeans right now is UK gov trying to make an example of them to get the word out: Europeans, don't come to UK to live or work without a visa.

Europeans would encounter same thing if they tried to enter the US to live/work without a visa.
The important thing to keep in mind is the same thing could happen to British people trying to enter the EU to live/work if they don't have a visa.

The UK gov's messaging trying to downplay the effects of #Brexit means people don't fully understand this sudden new reality.
Imagine if California seceded from US, but spoke as if it was no big deal and work/travel with US would still be easy.

Americans from other states would still be showing up at LAX with stars in their eyes looking for a job in Hollywood.

They would be promptly jailed & deported
A Belgian friend spent 3 nights in jail and is now banned from entering US because once when she was crossing the border they searched her computer and found a resume looking for work in San Francisco.

I know Americans who had similar (but much less harsh) experiences in Europe.
Stories of EU citizens being jailed when trying to enter UK are horrific, but they are probably deliberately trying to send a message that I think otherwise isn't being understood.

It is now illegal for people from EU to come to UK to live/work without a visa, and vice versa.

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More from @DaveKeating

Dave Keating Profile picture
16 May
It's #Eurovision week!

After last year was cancelled, they're going ahead this year with a limited audience.

Here's this year's entries. My prediction: 🇲🇹#Malta will win.

More on that below in the thread you didn't ask for but are getting anyway (1/21).
You might ask: this is 1st & foremost a TV show with theoretically no need for performers to be in same place, why was 2020 cancelled (for 1st time in 65 years)?

Answer: Eurovision rules are strict. There wasn't enough time to change them to allow contestants to compete remotely
#Netherlands is hosting this year in Rotterdam, because they won in 2019 with Arcade.

I'll be heading up there to cover it, luckily it's just 90 minutes away.

The rules are quite strict: constant testing & separation of audience, contestants and press.
Read 21 tweets
Dave Keating Profile picture
11 May
Belgian Prime Minister @AlexanderDeCroo is announcing right now the reopening plan for the 🇧🇪 summer. Next step will be 9 June.

This past weekend was the first step: bars and restaurants reopened for serving outdoors, and the curfews ended.
The next reopening step will depend on meeting vaccination and hospitalisation milestones, De Croo confirms - just like Saturday's reopening did.

"9 out of 10 people over 65 are now vaccinated" in Belgium, De Croo says.

The threshold necessary for Saturday's reopening was 7.
If on 9 June 80% of vulnerable people are vaccinated (corresponds to 1/2 of all adults) and less than 500 people in intensive care, then:

🏋️‍♂️ Gyms & theatres reopen
🍻 Bars/restaurants serve inside
🕙 Closing time moves from 22h to 23:30
🏠 Small gatherings (4) allowed at home
Read 5 tweets
Dave Keating Profile picture
9 May
"The #FutureOfEurope conference is for all Europeans to debate a shared vision of what we want of our union," says Commission President @vonderleyen.

"The conference must be whatever Europeans want it to be." Image
"I’m conscious there's always scepticism & cynicism whenever Europe launches a project of this nature. So we must make sure this is not a closed political exercise

We must listen to all voices, whether critical or complimentary, and make sure we follow up on whatever was agreed
There are certain issues we should attempt to resolve," says VDL.

"For example some feel Europe is too close and too involved in their lives. For others it is too far away and remote. This is an opportunity for Europeans to help find the right balance."
Read 7 tweets
Dave Keating Profile picture
9 May
President @EmmanuelMacron opens speech launching #FutureOfEurope by making the case for Strasbourg as a heart of the European project.

The European Parliament where he’s speaking has been empty for 6 months as MEPs refused to make the monthly trip from Brussels because of COVID. Image
#Macron says Europeans should be proud of what the EU has accomplished. He says now is the time for citizens to have their say about how the EU can improve.

The nagging question: if #TreatyChange has been ruled out, will this conference actually result in any changes? Image
Macron says that the populists and nationalists who oppose the values of the European Union have proven unable to effectively respond to the #Covid19 pandemic.

He says Europe was right to respond to the crisis with a unified strategy. Image
Read 8 tweets
Dave Keating Profile picture
8 May
The big day has finally arrived - #Belgium is reopening bars and restaurants today after 6 months of them being closed, and the 10pm curfew is ending.

But they can only serve people seated outside (no more than 4 people to a table), and tables must be 1.5 metres apart.
The weather, however, is dampening enthusiasm. We've had cold & rain for weeks here in 🇧🇪 and it's not ending any time soon.

Belgians do love a beer, but I doubt we'll see scenes here of people shivering and wet weeping tears of joy into their pints today brusselstimes.com/news/belgium-a…
The 🇧🇪 reopening is possible because of the dramatic increase in vaccination pace here recently.

The government said today's reopening could happen if 70% of people over 65 were vaccinated. That milestone was reached in late April.

1/3 of the country has now been vaccinated.
Read 4 tweets
Dave Keating Profile picture
6 May
Possible next 🇩🇪 chancellor @ABaerbock from the #GreenParty says the EU hasn't had a strong foreign policy because Germany hasn't had a strong foreign policy.

"It’s not about Germany telling the others what to do, but if we are behaving very passively it’s hard for the others." Image
The idea that it will take a Green chancellor to give Germany a more hawkish foreign policy and make the country take up its responsibilities on the world stage is ironic, but not entirely illogical.

The prospect of this will be welcome news for Brussels and Washington.
Baerbock takes a hard line against Russian #NordStream2 gas pipeline, saying the Merkel government's support for it is undermining the Russian sanctions.

"We cannot finalise this project...We need to be in the front row of action, not being so passive on this project".
Read 4 tweets

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