quote:

Originally posted by BansheeOne:
The EU has sole competence for...

Like borders and freedom of travel between member states right? Like the unity and common policy during covid-19?

Gee, if the EU has sole competence for trade, doesn't that mean that the UK can just bribe Germany and France and tell the rest of Europe to go to hell? That should be easy.

If they had found a common handle for Germany and France, things would have likely gone very much more in their favor. As it is however, both represent different camps in the EU, particularly when it comes to fiscal policy and indeed Union vs. national competences. See previous page where I explained why Germany would have liked to keep the UK in while France is happy to see them go. Politically and economically, trying to buy off both is like trying to buy off both California and Texas to get a favorable deal with the US as a whole; attempting separate deals with Italy or Poland is like agreeing on trade quotas and duties with the State of New York or Massachusetts. That's including account for American domestic partisan politics.

Health and civil protection is one of the fields where the Union has no say at all, except to coordinate and support at the behest of members (in Germany, like the US, the response to COVID isn't even a national rather than a state-level competence). All the complaints about a lack of EU response are akin to "Bush abandoned New Orleans to Katrina because he hates black people", and with the exact same motivations.

Borders come under the somewhat grandiosely-named "area of freedom, security and justice" (home affairs and justice policies) and are a shared competence. External borders are more on the Union side; but like the internal ones are also governed by the Schengen Agreement, which doesn't include all EU members (the UK never was a party, for example), but also some non-members like Norway and Switzerland. The internal borders are generally open, but parties can, and frequently do, re-introduce controls for limited periods in exceptional security circumstances. Which include everything from international summits and sports championships to the refugee and corona crises. The current lockdown is the strictest since the opening in 1995, but like other restrictions is slowly being eased, with farspread lifting expected next month.

Quitaly

“Boris Johnson told EU leaders they have until September to strike a deal amid fears they are 'running down the clock', as crucial Brexit talks are due to resume this week.

Britain has accused the European Union of trying to string out Brexit trade talks in the hope the UK will agree to its terms.

But the Prime Minister has warned that any delays from Brussels will not persuade the UK to extend the transition period past December 31.”

https://mol.im/a/8373085

“Boris Johnson has repeated his threat of walking away from trade talks with Brussels after German chancellor Angela Merkel warned Britain would have to 'live with the consequences' of abandoning close ties.

During a conversation on Saturday with Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Downing Street confirmed Mr Johnson reiterated that the UK was prepared to leave on 'Australia terms' if no agreement was forthcoming.

Australia has no bespoke trade deal with the European Union, leading Brexit critics to describe the proposals as akin to leaving on no-deal terms, albeit with a number of mini-deals put in place to allow vital sectors, such as air travel, to continue.”

https://mol.im/a/8466089

I hope Italy leaves the EU.
The whole thing will crumble.

If British-EU trade negotiations fail (seems to be a likely outcome), Boris wants a trade deal similar to the Australian-EU trade deal.

“A right-wing former Australian prime minister forced out of power by his own party after just two years is to help lead Britain's post-Brexit global trade mission, it was revealed today.

Tony Abbott, who led the Antipodean nation from 2013-15, is said to have been hired as joint president of the Board of Trade and help shape the UK's new commerce relationship with the world.

The Brexiteer's appointment - to sit alongside Trade Secretary Liz Truss - is yet to be made official but a UK government source told the Sun newspaper 'we are delighted to have him.' …”

https://mol.im/a/8665557

Swedish MEP CHARLIE WEIMERS reveals why he's fed up with Mr Barnier

Good article – much more follows.

“When Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, sits down to resume Brexit negotiations with his British counterpart David Frost today, let's hope he has learned his lesson.

From the moment Britain voted for Brexit more than four years ago, Brussels became enveloped by an emotionally charged thunderstorm — with Mr Barnier as its overzealous lightning bolt.

Yet last week, even those European MEPs who thought that they had seen it all — myself included — were astounded by Barnier's latest incendiary salvo.

Insisting that Britain will never be handed full sovereignty of its fishing waters, Barnier suggested that while Britain will have control of its coastal waters, 'the fish which are inside those waters' is 'another story'. …”

https://mol.im/a/8707847

Is Barnier suggesting that Britain cant harvest fish from its own coastal waters, or that EU nations can do so w/ o Britains permission???

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Swedish MEP CHARLIE WEIMERS reveals why he's fed up with Mr Barnier

Good article – much more follows.

“When Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, sits down to resume Brexit negotiations with his British counterpart David Frost today, let's hope he has learned his lesson.

From the moment Britain voted for Brexit more than four years ago, Brussels became enveloped by an emotionally charged thunderstorm — with Mr Barnier as its overzealous lightning bolt.

Yet last week, even those European MEPs who thought that they had seen it all — myself included — were astounded by Barnier's latest incendiary salvo.

Insisting that Britain will never be handed full sovereignty of its fishing waters, Barnier suggested that while Britain will have control of its coastal waters, 'the fish which are inside those waters' is 'another story'. …”

https://mol.im/a/8707847

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it...

Throughout history, including relatively modern history, there have been a number of military conflicts (both actual full-blown battles/wars as well as lesser military posturing/intimidation situations) fought over fishing rights. It's not an insignificant issue.

I was thinking along those lines as well...British navy protecting coastal waters from Continental fishing boats...what could possibly go wrong when the EU claims rights to British waters...

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it...

Throughout history, including relatively modern history, there have been a number of military conflicts (both actual full-blown battles/wars as well as lesser military posturing/intimidation situations) fought over fishing rights. It's not an insignificant issue.

The Royal Navy now has 2 active aircraft carriers. I think the Royal Navy can effectively patrol UK territorial waters as long as the government leadership has the spine for sovereignty.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it...

Throughout history, including relatively modern history, there have been a number of military conflicts (both actual full-blown battles/wars as well as lesser military posturing/intimidation situations) fought over fishing rights. It's not an insignificant issue.

Þorskastríðin 2025: Iceland's Revenge!

Cod Wars are back, baby!

PS: Yes, I know Iceland isn't an EU country.

Go Boris!

“Boris Johnson looks set to withdraw from significant European human rights laws in a move which could make it easier to deport migrants and more difficult to sue British soldiers.

Ministers are considering opt-outs from the Human Rights Act (HRA) in areas the Government believes European judges have 'overreached,' according to the Sunday Telegraph.

The legislation was signed into British law in November 1998 to incorporate rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights…”

https://mol.im/a/8726733

Interesting. Trade wetbacks for fish?

Britain officially completes divorce from EU, long effort to achieve Brexit

https://justthenews.com/world/..._campaign=newsletter



Britain on Thursday finished its Brexit quest, officially divorcing itself from the European Union in one of the biggest economic shakeups for the continent in over a half century.

Britain left the European bloc’s vast single market for people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time, midnight in Brussels, according to the Associated Press.

The move completing the biggest single economic change the country has experienced since World War II.

A different U.K.-EU trade deal will bring new restrictions and red tape, but for British Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from the EU and its web of rules, the wire service also reported.

Lawmakers in Britain voted on Wednesday to back the UK's post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union. The vote came just one day before the December 31 deadline that ends the transitions period during which England exited the EU.

The bill passed by a grand majority of 521-73 after stops in both Houses of Parliament. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs that the deal will "open a new chapter in our national story," allowing the UK to "control our laws and national security."

"This bill, it embodies our vision -- shared with our European neighbors -- of a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests and values, while respecting one another's freedom of action and recognizing that we have nothing to fear if we sometimes choose to do things differently," said the prime minister.

Prior to Wednesday, the bill had received provisional approval from the heads of the European Union. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter, "It has been a long road. It's time now to put Brexit behind us. Out future is made in Europe."

The final agreement will be reviewed by the European Parliament at a later date. Its passage marks the final step toward a fully independent Great Britain, more than four years after the country's citizenry voted to leave the EU behind.

God bless them; they're a resilient and resourceful people, and F all the bedwetters proclaiming doom.

Make Great Britain great again!

Hope they had a huge fireworks display at 2300 GMT in Dover that they could see in Calais.

I’m glad they finally got their independence from non elected Eurocrats ...

What was the final outcome of the contested fishing rights?