NI Protocol: 'Final talks' due between Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen

[Hi from France]

better and better: we have Charles and Camilla coming over

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/03/king-charles-to-make-first-state-visits-to-france-and-germany

 

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“The visit will celebrate the UK’s relationship with France and Germany, marking our shared histories, culture and values,” he said.

 

“It is also a chance to look forwards and show the many ways our countries are working in partnership, whether that be to tackle climate change, respond to the conflict in Ukraine, seize trade and investment opportunities or share the best of our arts and culture.

 

read : the Uk is on the fast Track to get back into Horizon-Europe

 

Edited March 3, 2023 by Hi from France

[Hi from France]

Inside story of the deal: How an ‘unholy trinity’ of UK civil servants ensconced in a Brussels basement thrashed out EU agreement.

 

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few could have predicted that less than six months later, all angry talk of a cross-Channel trade war would be a distant memory, with Britain and the EU striking a remarkable compromise deal over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland.

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-eu-deal-boris-johnson-departure-paved-the-way-brexit-bargain-northern-ireland-protocol-liz-truss-rishi-sunak-tory-conservatives/

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14 minutes ago, Hi from France said:

Inside story of the deal: How an ‘unholy trinity’ of UK civil servants ensconced in a Brussels basement thrashed out EU agreement.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-eu-deal-boris-johnson-departure-paved-the-way-brexit-bargain-northern-ireland-protocol-liz-truss-rishi-sunak-tory-conservatives/

Excellent article. And since you haven't quoted from it, allow me to do just that:

"It was clear when Boris Johnson was forced from Downing Street that British politics had changed forever.

But few could have predicted that less than six months later, all angry talk of a cross-Channel trade war would be a distant memory, with Britain and the EU striking a remarkable compromise deal over post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland.

Private conversations with more than a dozen U.K. and EU officials, politicians and diplomats reveal how the Brexit world changed completely after Johnson’s departure — and how an “unholy trinity” of little-known civil servants, ensconced in a gloomy basement in Brussels, would mastermind a seismic shift in Britain’s relationship with the Continent."

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-eu-deal-boris-johnson-departure-paved-the-way-brexit-bargain-northern-ireland-protocol-liz-truss-rishi-sunak-tory-conservatives/

[Hi from France]

that could be expected when you put grownups in charge

 

like on this thread instead of

• a anti-euro fanatic like @JonnyF whose extremist attitude (on this thread https://bit.ly/3F2bBsL) "corrupt EU", "EU tentacles" 
• you put in charge people a bit like @RayC with a clear vision of both differences and common ground

.. solutions appear. After all, the EU is a negotiating machine.

 

And British diplomacy is (or at least used to be) the very best of the world. Though brexiteers sacked the most skilled diplomats when taking power ("traitors"), there are apparently still some who can take over, and rebuild trust.

 

 

Now the UK still has brexiteers in power for 2 more years, a political system with "no written constitution" which means 50.1% can act as if they had 100% and do whatever they please, including breaking treaties voted by parliament and with Great Seal of the Realm.

 

 

 

A real guarantee of political stability and upholding international commitment would be to abolish First pass the post and have a UK constitution with a qualified majority system. Until then, every treaty of deal with the UK can go void anytime.

 

Now ironically Sunak appear more pro-Europe than Starmer

 

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Having publicly extolled the virtues of Northern Ireland’s access to the single market on Tuesday, Rishi Sunak was momentarily so engorged by exciting economics he forgot the ideological implications of what he was saying, while Tory advisers chewed off their feet backstage. The Tory Brexiter Sunak is now a more enthusiastic supporter of the EU than the Labour remainer Keir Starmer.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/05/brexit-has-reversed-the-brains-of-sunak-and-starmer

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by Hi from France

[Hi from France]

we have a good summary of the SB here :