Brace for impact! Duck, cover and roll!
After UK fires pre-emptive rhetorical salvo over Galileo this morning, the EU side is priming for imminent counter-strike.
After UK fires pre-emptive rhetorical salvo over Galileo this morning, the EU side is priming for imminent counter-strike.
Today the UK posted a series of position paper on defence and security - on which UK has made an "unconditional" offer - and which they believe commonsense dictates requires EU to offer exceptional arrangements when UK becomes 'Third Country'. /2
On secure data-sharing, on Europol, European Arrest Warrant, on Galileo etc the EU will express bemusement that UK wants access without obligations - ie ECJ oversight, fundamental charter etc /3
The EU will argue that this creates status for UK that beats that of any Third Country or even some EEA/EFTA member states.
Barnier has done series of briefs - MEPs, A50 working group - and poured a lot of cold water on UK ideas, I understand. /4
Barnier has done series of briefs - MEPs, A50 working group - and poured a lot of cold water on UK ideas, I understand. /4
The Galileo row was ultimately the harbinger of a much more fundamental gap between the two approaches.
The British feel deeply aggrieved, after all these years, at being treated like a none of its contributions and capabilities on security seem to count for anything. /5
The British feel deeply aggrieved, after all these years, at being treated like a none of its contributions and capabilities on security seem to count for anything. /5
UK officials warns that this EU approach will cost lives and set limits on co-operation. As David Davis warned in an interview last week. /6 
But as Ivan Rogers argued in that speech, the British logic feels rather different when viewed from Brussels. /7
Whether that positions holds across EU capitals will be tested in the coming months.
UK officials noted with approval that Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Fgn minister told @SkyNews today that it would be "very irresponsible" for the EU to give up on security co-op /8
UK officials noted with approval that Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Fgn minister told @SkyNews today that it would be "very irresponsible" for the EU to give up on security co-op /8
But I guess the value of that statement depends on how you define 'co-operation'.
The EU, after all, are not blocking UK from accessing Galileo secure feed; just the juicy contracts and the source codes.
Welcome to life on the outside. /9
The EU, after all, are not blocking UK from accessing Galileo secure feed; just the juicy contracts and the source codes.
Welcome to life on the outside. /9
This feels like it has the potential to be quite a seismic and sobering moment.
The UK avoided direct linkage on security; they tried to play it a little long with their "unconditional" offer.
But (as the Brits will see it) the EU ayatollahs and orthodoxies have won. /10
The UK avoided direct linkage on security; they tried to play it a little long with their "unconditional" offer.
But (as the Brits will see it) the EU ayatollahs and orthodoxies have won. /10
As everyone knows, we are entering a crucial phase in the negotiations (EU downplaying hopes for progress in June now).
The gulf in approach on security speaks volumes. And I think the volume is about to be turned up .
ENDS
The gulf in approach on security speaks volumes. And I think the volume is about to be turned up .
ENDS
