Frustrating to see that so many falsehoods are circulating about Schengen and 90/180.

So, let's explain again what it is.

Schengen is where the European states agree to have the same visa waivers and to coordinate on visas and entry requirements.

A 🧵

Millau Viaduct The most obvious comparison is with a customs union, where countries agree to apply the same external tariff on goods coming onto their territories from outside the union.

2

Puente Nuevo

First thing to say is let's praise Starmer for the sentiment. It is correct and Ukraine could definitely have done without Brexit distracting and even hampering its defence.

What is the heart of Europe?

A 🧵 Obviously coopération does not mean you're at the heart of something. We cooperate very closely with Norway but nobody would suggest that Norway is at the heart of Europe.

So what else is driving this statement from Labour?

2

Fascinating @pmdfoster newsletter in @FT on some of the resistence that Labour will meet from the UK side if it tries to align with Europe.

Broadly, not everyone will be happy.

Short 🧵

H/t @Nicoledso In three areas at least - packaging, food and chemicals - companies may see an advantage to keeping the lower standards, and have absorbed the costs of divergence and returning may not simply be worth it.

1

Just getting to this article now, but very much exactly where the relationship is at and what is being said.

1

theguardian.com/politics/artic…
Europe will likely listen to what the UK has to say, and I would be very surprised if there are not some sort of talks opened before the end of the year.

2

Jannike Wachowiak with an article in @TheNewEuropean which expresses a lot of the worries that Europeans who want closer relations to GB have.

Some quick thoughts

1 The rejection of youth visas demonstrates a continued opposition to co-operation between peoples.

It also shows strategic naïveté; Labour need to start finding formulations that don't close off cooperation.

2

Recently I've seen a number of comments along the lines of:

"The problem is the UK is not culturally European".

That can be either a lament, or an argument for staying out of Europe.

This is important, as Europeaness is vital for a join movement.

A 🧵 The UK is not the first or only country to have had these debates about its Europeanness. Examples aboud, including Bulgaria, Norway, Turkey, and indeed Ireland.

This is Mary Harney (centre, with some familiar faces) former Tánaiste (deputy PM) or Ireland.

2

So, the Labour manifesto is out.

On relations withh Europe, much was well-flagged in advance, but nevertheless must represent a disappointment for British pro-Europeans.

1 Okay, so it is a rejection of the architecture of Europe.

But actually, it's worse. The language is quite Brexity.

Not just saying that quitting is a source of opportunity. But also avoiding talking about Bxl, preferring. And casting normal border procedures as unnecessary.

2

This is a really good tight tweet and short thread.

Those facts are correct: it happened. It was traumatic. It didn't go very well. It isn't easily changed.

Does that mean the reaction in WM and elsewhere is "correct" or even normative?

A 🧵

https://twitter.com/DavidHenigUK/status/1800865767606698123

Firstly, on this, Brexit has happened. And even if it is not settled on the UK side, esp. at the border, it is for Europe.

And it was traumatic, I think in a way is foreigners didn't appreciate. In some ways, for the UK, it was the end of the post-Cold War settlement.

2

In the past few days, I've read a number of people saying that you can work in Europe with a 90/180 visa waiver if you're from the UK. Particularly people refer to general employment, consultancy based in the UK, and concert crew.

Is that true? The confusion comes from people misunderstanding what's happened since Brexit. Britons are now restricted to 90 days in every 180 in Europe as a matter of course.

But that is a visa waiver for *visiting*. It implies no right to work.

2

So, exceptionalist Andrew is back with the Extrawurst manifesto as a reply.

I've stitched it together for you're reading pleasure.

Let's deal with these claims les uns après les autres 😉

A 🧵 No, the British people should not just accept things. But the time to say so was before the votes in 2016, 17 and esp. 19, when the electorate approved the current deal.

It's not our job to fix things for you now.

2

Really interesting discussion over the weekend about the UK electorate's responsibility for the loss of European citizenship rights via Brexit.

If we accept that the electorate is not responsible for Brexit* then can from who do you expect restoration of your citizenship?

1 If the UK electorate is not responsible, can we say that they don't need to change with regard to their attitude to Europe, to the community? That it was all someone else's fault?

2

Absorbing interview with @HeleneBismarck on @SnellArthur 's podcast.

She comes across as a very clear thinker, which makes for good listening.

A lot to get your teeth into. Summary of some points (and one slight disagreement)

🧵

https://twitter.com/SnellArthur/status/1788605759141404917

Ms Bismarck states she is seen in Germany as an Anglophone nostalgic. She is most definitely a friend of the UK.

On this (my thoughts, not hers) I do wish the Brexit and rejoin debates would take more time to talk to Europeans on the situation.

2

There is a need to address this article and point made by Peter Cook in @BylinesScotland as regards UK accession to Europe, Schengen, and the euro.

A 🧵

bylines.scot/opinion/myths-… Firstly, these things are not myths. Euro and Schengen are set out in the acquis, which the UK would have to adopt to join Europe.

Monetary union is even in the Copenhagen Criteria. Before the process begins properly.

Unless the intention is to lie to Europe, it's nailed on.

2

Interesting article from @DrStephanieLuke regarding whether Europe wants the UK back.

The answer should not perhaps be "Yes, but..."

A 🧵
(h/t @LittleGravitas)

ukandeu.ac.uk/do-eu-member-s…
Firstly, it should be remembered, Europe is an enormously complex polity, with different counties, groupingings of states, and stakeholders, spread over a wide geographic area.

It's yes and no for that reason.

2

Quite a mixed reaction to my thread over the weekend on rejoin organisations getting behind Schengen and Europe.

Let's talk about the how the naysayers are wrong, that's it's time now to make the case for the whole acquis, using the example of... Guinness.

A🧵 The reaction to this was either: we agree and we do;

or you're an idiot and there's no point in talking about the negatives of European accession. Better focus on the positives.

2

https://x.com/nialloconghaile/status/1786644362849358315

Are #rejoinEU campaigners serious about Europe?

As frustrating as UK politics is, everyone knows the direction or travel is towards Europe. That will involve winning a referendum well on the substance of the acquis.

A🧵 Europe's core is essentially monetary union, Schengen, and the four freedoms (for now - defence may be a much bigger area soon).

In order to win well, campaigners should be planting the Schengen seeds, say, early. So how positive have the rejoin leaders been?

2

À core part of Labour's "make Brexit work" agenda is SPS. Yet there is a flaw at the core of this.

To see it, let's look at the Irish Sugar company.

A 🧵

𝘙𝘦𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘯 What are we talking about here. SPS are the sanitary and phytosanitary arrangements including checks within and between jurisdictions on food.

Labour plans to expand the TCA to reduce checks on UK products coming to Europe.

2

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘩 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘪𝘵

The reaction to both the developments in the Gib-Europe relationship and the proposal by the Commission for youth mobility with the UK is instructive.

It is the Swissification of the UK-Europe relationship.

1 As @chrisgreybrexit points out, the end of the Gib negotiations is the end of the first phase of Brexit, the A49 and negotiations begun prior to leaving have finished.

The new phase is Swissification.

2

https://x.com/nialloconghaile/status/1781305219717960048

À deal looks close on Gibraltar and relations with Europe.

The Telegraph's take is quite instructive.

Bound up in it is all the complexes vis-à-vis Europe.

But behind the noise, there is a lesson here for third countries.

1 Firstly, Spain is a Nato member, as are most European MSs. Britain owning the Gib base makes no difference. It would be the same if Italy or the US or France or Spain were administering it from a Nato perspective.

2

Another attack on Schengen from the UK. Quite an unusual one this time, in the DT: Schengen is "unromantic".

Let's be honest here. The problem for these people is our unity.

Short 🧵 We see this all the time from the holiday-home 'Ndrangheta and their articles in the Mail, Express, Majorca Bulletin or another Europhobic publication of choice, demanding and end to unified visa waivers so Britons can have another nice holes and six G&Ts

2

I have been thinking about this and some of the reaction to this. Let me expand.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨? A 🧵

(I am sure I will miss stuff, of course, based on recollection, so fill in where I have it wrong)

https://twitter.com/nialloconghaile/status/1776133165318369345

Firstly some context: Europe was not paradise, but it had had huge achievements since foundation not long after the War. In particular, the leaps forward of the customs union, the single market, Schengen and the euro took vision and determination.

2