@lewis_goodall
Positive and the right thing to do.
Little gem in his speech: "...the very people who created the Protocol,.., came to this island and acted – to be blunt – in bad faith."
@Mij_Europe
@BorisJohnson
@DavidGHFrost
"The EU did not want Brexit to succeed".
This is folly. It is not up to the EU to make Brexit a success or not. Brexit is a UK thing, and UK is solely responsible for that. EU will mind its own interests, and likewise does not expect UK to contribute to that.
@tconnellyRTE
This is a very sensible approach by the EU, since:
- UK wants to use bilateral deals as a way to undermine EU and divide EU MS
- EU as a block is in a much stronger position to get better deals than the individual Member States.
- It shows Switz./No/Tr that alignment has value.
@tconnellyRTE
If it is this bad, the response should not be low-key.
The TCA should be ended, but on top of that additional trade-war measures should be taken, such as reducing flights, boycots on non-basic foods, ending services cooperation, etc.
@pernilleru
Full compensation will not be possible. A permanent subsidy of 10% on every car to compensate for tariffs is also likely illegal.
More realistic is that the UK car industry aimed at the EU will be unsustainable, and just pack up and leave.
@hhesterm
The Mail may win in UK, but in EU it has no leverage.
We in EU will set up and implement this system of admission. This is what we have decided, and we have the sovereign right to do this.
All efforts to twart this should be seen as efforts by hostiles to undermine the EU.
@RaveCozensHardy
Excellent that falsehoods like this are exposed.
Its also remarkable to observe there are people ready to twist the truth to keep holding on to expensive, outdated technology that uses a large, continuous supply of feedstock often sourced from dictators.
@Mij_Europe
@BorisJohnson
@DavidGHFrost
This thread is not complete without reference to the enduring hostility of UK towards EU.
The EU should be very much aware that the UK wants to damage and diminish EU, and should actively work to counter that.
@pmdfoster
To me its baffling that UK has not grasped that the UK-EU relation is now transactional:
If the UK wants something, it needs to offer something in return. Otherwise its a simple no.
@StevePeers
@hayward_katy
Thank you for your dissection.
Yes, "intellectually dishonest", but also the words of a lightweight:
Frost strutted around for a year, as UK 'negotiator', firmly establishing UK as unreliable, and now wants a do-over on essentially the same flawed grounds.
@tconnellyRTE
@vonderleyen
Predictability and clarity from EU. The protocol stays.
UK gov. and others involved should now work towards the full implementation of the Protocol.
Any 'debate' on unicorn solutions is over. There are no alternatives to the Protocol.
@DavidHenigUK
I note that these US Congress politicians call upon the the UK to "...commit to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in full".
This is stronger than "respect the GFA", or "work with EU/Ireland".
@DmitryOpines
People will only believe it when there are actually 8500 trucks stuck at the border. I bet that even now there are many Tory politicians that will deny that anything bad will happen.
@LLBruce
These people are not immigrants, but refugees.
If these kinds of demands are placed on refugees from Ukraine, this means in fact that that UK is turning away refugees.
UK should ask itself what country it wants to be.
@M_AndersonSF
This is exactly what Sevcovic (current EU point person) said: the Protocol was negotiated ’over several years’, ‘line by line’. Frost cannot disown it.
It must be implemented in full.
@tconnellyRTE
Its such nonsense. A ‘dual regulatory regime’, where ‘robust in-market surveillance’ would mean no Sea border checks.
Come on…UK cannot even control their own border with the EU and now there will be a system in place that is so good border checks are not needed….
@GergelyOrosz
Any Dutch judge will make minced meat out of this: no proper communication, no social plan, no grounds dismissal, and chaotic execution.
An employment contract is first of all a contract. It bind both sides, and making changes unilaterally is not allowed.
@hilarybennmp
@pmdfoster
Up until this moment UK has not implemented the Protocol, and has dragged its feet.
To say that EU now needs to go further is not recognising where the problems are. It only leads to UK being even more difficult.
@Peston
@anandMenon1
You assume UK gov is trustworthy. They may be citing protection of the GFA as a reason to ditch the Protocol, but it is just air. There is zero truth
UK wants to ditch all international agreements, including the ECHR - to let Rwanda flights happen - and obviously the GFA as well
@danielmgmoylan
The way NI has been treated by rUK can be characterized by distant, aloof, and uncaring. It was known for years that this would happen, and still the WA was supported in HoC and HoL.
NI should embrace Ireland and unite. There is nothing left on other side of the Irish Sea.
@AlexTaylorNews
@ukhomeoffice
@FT
Its the political leadership which requires this. The problems with UK runs much deeper than just some rogue civil servants.
At the heart of this is an unwillingness of UK to respect, or even acknowledge others. The UK you grew up in is no more.
@DavidHenigUK
The logic is strange: how could Brexit be ruined by others when the Brexiters were in charge for the full six years after Brexit, during which UK - and they - became steadily more extreme.
What is their answer: even more extremism?
@DarranMarshall
@KeohaneDan
@DavidGHFrost
This is clear nonsense and Frost knows that. Specifically:
- EU has always been against equivalence.
- Trusted trader schemes are fine, but they are always very limited
and under "parliamentary duress"????? Is that really the excuse of a democratic state?
@pmdfoster
Past 4 years have learned that the UK government listens to no one (remainers, Labour, the EU, the farmers, business, etc.). So no way they will listen to Scotland.
What should Scotland do? Simply leave. Ireland knows what it is to be always ignored. They are happy now.
@swgannon
@RuthDE
@Telegraph
(paraphrasing) "The narrative that a leader of a country is actually responsible for what happens in that country hinders solutions....."
Lol; down the rabbit hole.
@tconnellyRTE
Better if UK is barred from Horizon Europe. The programme is about boosting the EU’s competitiveness and growth. Its clear that UK has no place in it
Also strange that UK ended Freedom of Movement with EU and then wants science cooperation and the mobility that comes with that
@BEERG
They have no idea.
Barnier was especially good at keeping EU MS united, but otherwise not particularly radical. MS and others would have been more strict with UK.
No new EU leaders will to hand UK 'cake-and-eat-it' privileges. What UK wants was - and is - absurd.
@BEERG
One of many examples of the hostility of the Brexiters towards the EU and all EU citizens.
Sure there are many equally 'strange' people in EU countries, but in UK they form the government; that's the danger.
What is needed: Never trust them, never give in on anything.
@Mij_Europe
I expect that this is needed since UK is trying to play EU MS against each other, and because UK discriminate between Member States, for example by asking higher fees for work visa for EU citizens in Eastern Europe.
Obviously this is wholly unacceptable.
@paddy_de
@tconnellyRTE
@rtenews
No. Its increasingly clear that the UK is only looking for confrontation for internal political purposes. It is important for EU not only to not yield one inch, but to go on the offensive to discourage the UK destructive behavior in the future.
Based on a few amusing exchanges on the “not for EU” label – and the recent Politico article - I decided to write a thread on the question: “does the ‘not for EU’ label mean its an inferior product”
TL:DR: Likely yes.
Hear me out
(1/x)
@HarryYorke1
@JamesCrisp6
Until the NI Protocol is sorted, either through full implementation or alignment, all other interactions are slow-walked by EU.
UK behaviour should dramatically improve to stem the tide. EU is increasingly fed up.
@journoontheedge
@JP_Biz
This is good news.
Cash demanded in parliament 45 years of EU contributions back. He thus was part of the Tory cabal that stoked hostility and resentment towards EU and Europeans.
All righteous people should feel contempt for him.
@DmitryOpines
Surgical.
As to your point 8) (Ukraine should stay 'neutral') its worth recalling that Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from i.a. Russia.
So it would be very unwise for Ukraine to weaken itself in exchange for 'guarantees' worth nothing
@rfhaviland
@sjwrenlewis
When UK gov talks about the Rwanda scheme and the legal aspects I hear the following:
”We will not help refugees, because we do not care if they live or die”
@DavidHenigUK
"Chaos at Dover: 10,000 angry lorry drivers clash with police and demand to be let across the Channel"
I have a free tip for all the UK truck drivers in Dover: Turn around, drive to London and demand change there.
@tconnellyRTE
I doubt they were that gullible.
My theory is that they knew full well that they could not overturn it by normal means. The just did not care about NI
@adampayne26
@tconnellyRTE
I would suggest that the EU takes the UK trashing a Treaty very seriously, but not in the way Frost thinks.
Nobody wants to do business with a banana republic that takes its own treaties not seriously.
@LOS_Fisher
ERG voted for the WA. It would be great if UK contained principled politicians that stand behind what they agreed to.
This ERG lot has put a dagger in the back of unionism, and will do so again. They are just flies to be swatted away.
@DavidHenigUK
one of the reasons why this can go on for so long is the problematic state of democracy in the UK.
A one-party-to-rule-them-all, with no say by any others, and complicit media, means that denials of reality can go on and on.
@Mij_Europe
@EmmanuelMacron
Very good that Macron is honest: the Russian war of agression against Ukraine is also our war. Every day Russia makes clear that the rest of Europe is next if he wins. What that means is clear since Bucha.
Full-on support for Ukraine means sacrifices at home.
Very good that Euro clearing is being reshored to EU.
This is important for EU Open Strategic Autonomy, reduces risks, and will in time increase jobs and growth in EU.
@DavidHenigUK
The EU is being too reasonable to UK, which results in UK persisting in silliness. When that leads to things like disinviting Patel, there is the "oh, EU is sooooo unreasonable".
When UK ignores all gentle nudges, the sledgehammer comes out.
@NIHargrave
Agree with you.
UK is not a functioning democracy, since the PM has practically all the power, and nobody has any say. There are no 'brakes' in the system, and it can get worse and worse without anything breaking the slide.
@Mij_Europe
It seems risky to offer so much concessions while its already clear it will not be enough. Far better to confront this issue head on, and take increasingly severe measures until this is solved.
@BBCkatyaadler
...Frost was the embodiment of this insincerity by his seemingly high-minded (Burke) speeches, that simply meant that UK wanted to wriggle out of deals it proposed.
Frost did not accomplish anything, and has damaged UK reputation considerably.
@jonsnowC4
Why would the creative industry be more entitled than non-creatives? Freedom of Movement is a wonderful thing, precisely because it applies to all, regardless of profession or social standing. UK opted not to have that, and it should be all or none.
@lisaocarroll
The argument of Jones is essentially:
"We don't like the Protocol, and so we can tear it up because we are untrustworthy"
It would be very good for the standing of UK if Jones and their ilk would loose all their positions. How is any deal possible with untrustworty people
@tconnellyRTE
@rtenews
Thank you very much Tony for the hugely insightfull and detailed report. You put the J in Journalism.
There should be a prize for doing what you do and I would nominate you in an instant.
@DavidHenigUK
I see long threads are being written about EU should not ask UK to align.
To be chrystal clear: EU does not ask UK to alingn on anything. Just implement the Protocol.
There are no problems with the Protocol, only with Brexit. It can be implemented fully.
@PaoloSandro2
@chrisgreybrexit
@DavidGauke
Thank you for the good explanation.
To me it is feels logical that treaties cannot be changed unilaterally: if that would be possible, there would not be treaties. They would not exist, because they would bind no one.
@hhesterm
Thank you for this interesting thread. Its clear that UK leaving the ECHR goes against the GFA.
However, given that UK does not seem to want to adhere to international treaties, its not academic to ask what would happen if the UK presses on with leaving the ECHR?
@Simon_Nixon
Austerity since 2010 and Brexit.
It would be good for UK to remove all Tories from all elected positions, in all levels of elected government.
@DavidHenigUK
I would not call it fury. It is the realisation that ‘normal’ negotiations do not work with UK, and that UK does not want to keep to agreements it signed.
Its only logical to end the TCA: the WA and the TCA were a package. That - obviously - still holds.
@tconnellyRTE
@rtenews
This looks DOA (dead on arrival). Nothing UK has done suggests something different then a steady decline in relations. Existing agreements are not met, and any opening is seen as weakens..
EU should hold on defences, and act on offensives, such as finance, agriculture.
@AntonSpisak
Thank you for this.
I should add, that these 'revisions of history' are quite a common instrument of UK gov. This means that all others - including EU - should be extra vigilant regarding any and all utterances by UK gov.
They cannot be trusted.
(1/2)
@christopherhope
There are no EU inspectors at the border. The EU has an office in Belfast to oversee the UK inspections at the Sea border.
Tensions are only rising because UK gov., media and a unionist minority are stirring the pot.
@AmandaFBelfast
What do we miss in this statement:
- Acknowledgement that EU is willing to discuss Protocol implementation, but UK is not.
- The UK could align more with EU to make the Sea border less problematic. We see no movement at all on this.
@gallardo_ortega
This is just a request so the answers to Frost can be:
"Thank you for your letter but we do not consider it appropriate to inform you", and "we note you expectation regarding our support for your positions, just as you note our view on e.g. the IM bill".
@anandMenon1
Market-only membership was impossible, and it still is. there is no "EU Plan" for this. Its a study report from a study group.
Because there is no serious pushback against fantasists like Hannan they can keep on pushing nonsense like this
@AlexRossPhoto
@DmitryOpines
EU and UK agreed a Political Declaration, in which all things now on the table - like LPF - were agreed. UK wants to change that now.
UK is unreliable, and wants all advantages of the Single Market without obligations. You deserve everything that is coming to you.
@SFischer_EU
There is no realistic solution, if all UK wants is conflict with EU.
EU should be aware, and take actions - not words - that disadvantage Tories electorally. When UK (in)action has no consequences, it will never stop.
@hhesterm
My issue with this is not so much the point-scoring, but the ignorance on what has happened in Germany combined with the immediate - unfounded - sowing of doubts on the German motives.
It’s disrespectful
And: give none, get none.
@NashSGC
.. and can inflict a lot of pain, but this is irrelevant in the UK contect. UK gov does not answer to democratic signals, so it can do what it wants.
What then? First its good to recognise the upside for the EU. UK Brexit shows the benefits of membership, and..
@Mij_Europe
@iainmartin1
This 'partial fixes' idea looks very much like the the old 'mini-deals' idea of Brexiters. Basically it means that UK cherry-picks what it likes from EU.
Its not even that this cannot work pe se, but the crux is that EU will also want its cherries, and UK does not want that.
Interesting for the history books:
4 years ago the UK Johnson gov. proposed to separate Ireland from the EU to satisfy the UK wish to replace the ‘backstop’.
In hindsight all those on the EU side should get a medal for self-restraint.
Four years ago today the Johnson government set out its proposals to replace the ‘backstop’ Protocol.
Proposed text was forwarded to the European Commission… but alas has never been published.
And FOI request rejected.
@gallardo_ortega
@chrisgreybrexit
This is fine.
It means that the bar for any new deal is cross-community consent.
It is of course completely unacceptable to let only unionists have a veto in NI.
@JP_Biz
Frost and now Truss have been known to complain that the Sea border costs 0.6 billion Euro, while EU now complains that there are "not sufficient resources"
It would be wonderfull if some journalists could look at what is really happening. We are groping in the dark.
@tconnellyRTE
@ThomasByrneTD
Very positive signs that these new transport links are working.
It is now good that Ireland + EU work on direct energy links, combined with own renewable energy generation in Irland, so that it will be possible to reduce energy supplies to UK without cutting of Ireland as well.
@DavidHenigUK
At some point UK should accept that it has left EU. This means accepting its own responsibilities, which include border checks.
Every country can do this. EU did it on day 1. UK looks unserious.
@NashSGC
Thank you for the great threat, and this all sounds quite plausible. Question is, what should the EU do?
Firstly, its good to realise that nothing will ever be enough with the current Tory gov., so the EU should not give in on any point. Secondly, the EU will..
@tconnellyRTE
@chrisgreybrexit
@rtenews
Wonderfully detailed as always. Highlight for me: Medicines seem to have been solved, but are held up by UK - solely - because of politics.
Let that sink in: UK is blocking a medicines solution in NI because of politics.
@LizWebsterSBF
This Sumption person is not arguing for UK to be part of EU. He just wants UK to be able to keep Europe divided.
If this is the main view, UK does not belong in EU.
@rolandmcs
@KeohaneDan
So funny that the biggest advantage of Brexit is apparently 'accountability', while the current UK gov rather denies reality than takes responsibility, and gets away with it.
@nialloconghaile
Note the headline: As always UK media tried to put European politicians in a bad light.
Merkel did not ridicule May's demands; she noted that May did not have any proposal. All May could say was: 'make me an offer' - as if EU had to do Brexit for them.
@DavidHenigUK
The most remarkable thing is that US without a doubt knows that UK would roll over and give US all it wanted in a trade deal. It would easily have been a complete win for US business.
The fact that US choose differently is a win for the transatlantic (EU-US) relation.
This is right and proper.
It is a risk for the EU to have a large financial center nearby that is not regulated by EU. Reshoring of financial activities to EU - and crucially: EU oversight - should continue.
"The City ... is suffering a slow puncture. Business and jobs have been leaching away to other European centres and in some cases to New York. It is not all because of Brexit, although that has been a significant factor."
@Gilesyb
@DavidHenigUK
As to 'what must happen': its not that difficult: UK Tories should be - for now - voted out of everything, UK should behave reliable again (adhere to agreements), strengthen its civil structure and update its political institutions.
@RichardGCorbett
For sure this should not happen: It is unwise for EU to have these critical tasks outsourced to an actor outside of the regulatory sphere of the EU.
The sooner market access from UK to EU is barred the better.
@benhabib6
@DavidGHFrost
It is not only that the UK government seems unable to take action, they actually ARE unable to take action.
Brexit means Brexit. UK left and its over.
@tconnellyRTE
Interesting to see that UK government has contractually stipulated that all UK produced vaccines go to UK, while at the same time being up in arms if the EU does the same.
@Mij_Europe
@EmmanuelMacron
You could add to that most of the UK right wing press openly rooting for a Macron defeat a the elections.
Macron has in fact been quite pro-UK, likely more than others would have been. i.a. his congratulations to the queen showed this.
@BestForBritain
Sure this is all heartbreaking, but there were warnings - especially warnings about Brexit and Johnson - all around.
All could have informed themselves, or they could have chosen to listen to experts that were informed.