EU has shared a 441-page text of a "New Partnership with the UK" with member states, which pretty faithfully translates the mandate. On state aid, UK would implement a list of EU laws (currently blank) but could opt out from new legislation. ECJ rulings binding on UK (1) On fish there would be long-term agreements on EU access to British waters (length not specified) and each side's % share of specific stocks is BLANK. (2)

Crunching the European Parliament motion on the UK.
Where it calls for ALIGNMENT:
- Environment, labour & social, relevant tax, state aid policies
- Market surveillance of products/product standards
- COP26 position
- Carbon pricing policy
- REACH
- EIB climate policies (1) Rules which EP resolution says UK goods should FOLLOW for access to single market:
food safety, Genetically Modified Organisms, pesticides, GI's, animal welfare, labelling and traceability, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, and human, animal and plant health. (2)

According to diplomats, the European Commission was so non-plussed by one of the UK's proposals in the legal text for the replacement backstop that they had to check whether it was a mistake by the Brits. It wasn't. (1) It's over the UK's new Article 1⃣(a) for the Ireland protocol, which would commit both sides to no checks at the Irish border ever. This + possible Stormont veto - guarantees of what checks would happen in NI = big problem for the EU27 because it's a bit like a blank cheque. (2)

UK officials say yesterday's talks between David Frost and the European Commission were serious, but EU27 diplomats were told the British proposals were "aspirational" and "concepts" at a debrief this morning. (1) UK proposed N Ireland and Ireland be separate customs and regulatory territories. Customs checks would take place in business premises not on the border. There'd be an "enhanced market surveillance mechanism" for industrial goods using surveillance, data and tough penalties. (2)

Details have emerged of what David Frost asked for in Brussels yesterday after a briefing of EU27 diplomats by officials from the European Commission. Negotiators believe it amounted to bits of the Withdrawal Agreement crossed out NOT concrete proposals. (1) The UK wants the backstop radically reduced to include only the articles dealing with citizens rights, the single electricity market and the Common Travel Area. UK wants removal of articles 6-10 and 12 and associated annexes. (2)

Well well well. @MichelBarnier has written a column for the @Telegraph. It seems like a response to the @BorisJohnson letter to @eucopresident where the PM said the backstop contravened the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/… (1). He makes the point that the backstop is designed to maintain the status quo on the island of Ireland (a point often missed in the discussion, which is dominated by the issue of avoiding checks on the border) and that it’s already quite a big ask for the EU27.(2)

Yesterday @MichelBarnier told EU27 ambassadors that either the Withdrawal Agreement is passed, or the UK will face a No Deal scenario or a long extension to the Brexit process with participation in the European Parliament elections, according to a note of the meeting (1) MB also noted that if 8 more MPs voted for a permanent customs union then the government's mandate could be changed. It might then only take 48hrs to update the Political Declaration. He suggested a customs union would reduce the "drama" of the backstop. (2)

EU leaders are considering a commitment to continue negotiating a trade deal with the U.K. even if the Irish backstop comes into force - to prove that they want it to be temporary. (1) This is part of a two-stage reassurance process that will start at the December summit and could continue into January. It’s spelled out in draft summit conclusions circulating this evening. (2)

The Article 50 case at the ECJ has begun. Lawyer for the British MSPs, MPs and MEPs arguing that requiring unanimity to revoke A50 would "ride roughshod" over EU principles, meaning a state could be forced out against its will if it changed its mind. He ends his argument saying that parliamentarians need to know what options are available to them when they vote on Brexit.

Some important comments on #Brexit from @campaignforleo at a modest press conference in Brussels. He said there's a good opportunity to clinch a deal over the next fortnight. (1) On a UK-wide customs arrangement: "A lot of countries would take the view that any UK-wide arrangement is really a matter for the future relationship rather than a backstop which is for N Ireland and Ireland. Also there's the whole issue of the level playing field..." (2)

THREAD on the transcript of the @CommonsEUexit evidence session with @MichelBarnier because it is REALLY, REALLY worth reading. I'll not go into the did he/didn't he stuff about Chequers being dead because that has been a total waste of everyone's time. (1) I starts of pretty awkwardly with the Chair @hilarybennmp telling MB to be concise. I would not have recommended saying that to him... (2)

European Parliament has just had an update on #Brexit from @danutahuebner who chairs the @EPInstitutional committee and is on the Brexit Steering Group (1) ▶️no idea when Brexit deal will arrive at European Parliament
▶️last point that Parliament can vote is first plenary session in March 19 because the second session would be too late
▶️negotiations have intensified but she hopes this isn't "a trick" (2)

Contribution to this week's #Brexit diplomatic activity from @MichelBarnier in 20+ European newspapers today. EU offering ambitious partnership on trade+security with usual caveats and has to be progress on the Withdrawal Agreement. Does it sound mostly 👍 with a bit of 👎?

https://twitter.com/PicheBarthelemy/status/1024958885352943616

It includes your weekly reminder that the protection of Cornish Pasties is still an issue. (2)

THREAD. I've seen the presentation given to Team Barnier yesterday by the UK Brexit negotiators on data protection after #Brexit. It puts "some" flesh on the bones of the PM's Mansion House speech (1) UK said that the @ICOnews should remain part of the Supervisory Board of the #GDPR which comes into force this week. And UK should remain in the "one stop shop" system where people and businesses only deal with one national regulator. UK also going above and beyond #GDPR. (2)