thehowler

Better for chips. I hear.

Not going to happen with the cockles is it, and nobody expects it. But I can't think of anything else the Brit govt have asked for since FCA kicked in (away from NIP). No rule flouting.

That's all blame game waffle from the usual nutters. NIP is a special case. DUP voted against WA and TCA. DUP are losing their voter base anyway. All parties have to work to make the NIP workable or it will collapse. (And I'm starting to think it's a bit odd that the people of NI are subject to SM rules but have no say in their formation. Sounds as though Irish MEPs have picked up on this.) On UK-EU, other than shellfish I can't think of anything the UK have asked for in terms of special treatment since Jan 1st - and that seems to be mostly DEFRA confusion.

Reason for strict LPF controls was geographic proximity, we were told. Repeatedly.

Nah, CU and SM are long gone, a lost cause. What rules does the UK govt want to flout, pig? Thus far, Eustice has asked them to think again on washing shellfish - with no expectation they will - and Gove wants some easing of the NIP. What else have we asked for since the FCA came in? We might get equivalence - when the Commission get around to looking at it - but other 3rd countries already have it/forms of it. I can't think of any other UK asks. It's the 'spirit of friendly cooperation' that's missing, from both sides.

Well it does, but we're not, and no sign of it happening for years, so I was hoping for a change of approach...

You don't think proximity has any bearing on the trading relationship then?

A PITA for sure but companies will get better at dealing with it... ref only DPD say that following close co-operation with the British Government on its New Computerised Transit System (NCTS), they have been able overcome the initial issues with their system. https://trans.info/en/dpd-reopens-eu-uk-road-services-for-businesses-218202

When we talk directly to member states we're accused of hiving away from/undermining the Commission...when we speak to the Commission we're told we need to include the member states. But you're right on the UK opting for a hard exit, no excuses.

That's not softening. It's not compromise either. That's just us agreeing to more of their rules. And the UK govt rejected that tack a long time ago. We're not going to get Friendly Cooperation between Sovereign Equals with that mindset. And we're not rejoining in a hurry either. Thus your approach just leads to continuing political antagonism and trade friction between the two parties. I'd rather they both bend a little.

I take it you don't think the Commission should be "softening" their position as we soften ours? In my view a little more softening and contrition from both sides would be helpful... We got it right!

According to who? Up until yesterday Gove was telling MPs/Lords he wasn't expecting the request to be made. Both sides have dragged their feet appallingly in setting up the relevant bodies and getting them to function. I think the Partnership Council have to put the new date forward, but sure there are other ways around it. But all this complexity gets reduced to three word headlines in Brit papers.

I think the Partnership Council also has a role to play in any changes to Data Adequacy. The way things are going I don't think the EU will grant this after the summer extension expires, there's enough in the UK Japan deal to justify concerns. I guess it was always likely we'd get into a cold shoulder scenario after the way the UK has behaved and the extraordinary snub to the EU projekt. Turbulence into the summer and well beyond I reckon. But no pro-EU political enthusiasm/mobilization.

Gotta love this. I think the Council are still drafting the wording of the text that will be sent to the EP to request that they consider when beginning to start to ratify the treaty. But... ref to steve peers... @StevePeers The Council was acting on a proposal from the Commission to conclude the agreement, which the Commission sent to the Council in December alongside the proposal to sign with provisional application.

So we have two months when the treaty isn't in place? Not sure of the legal kickback from that. It's potentially really embarrassing for the EU to have to ask for an extension - can imagine some of the UK headlines, mismanagement, all too slow etc. No, scream the Europhiles, it's a tactical advantage. Take your pick, I've always been stuck somewhere in the middle.

Another thing I'm noticing from the old trade/EU faces is that they always want the other camp to be reasonable/sensible/cooperative/flexible when following the new dynamic/rules - as though they're rolling eyes or shaking a head with exasperation that it could be any other way - but when it's their own side acting up they storm straight in with the that's-how-it-works line, total inflexibility is all you should ever have expected, are you mad? Then there's the "but" appendage. When it's the other camp at fault they're monsters and their actions indefensible. When it's your own side you always see a "but, after all," or "but it was only" rapidly looming out of the fog.

Extension to April hasn't been agreed by the UK. Don't think we've even nominated anyone to the panel that's supposed to decide whether we can extend or not. One of the major problems we're facing with the new dynamic is that the big players and pundits have just come out of years of clashing and rivalry over core values and beliefs. Many of them hate each other. But they're expected to move into being friendly, cooperative trading partners, instantly. So now we've got Brexit nutters seeing the EU having to make a request as some kind of proof of their leviathan slowness of procedure - the tanker - and Europhiles being all prissy about the EU can take as long as it wants to approve the deal, years even, and if the UK doesn't want to play ball it's them that will suffer etc. It's really time for the bangers on both sides to accept that their cheerleading for the old cause isn't adding anything positive to the situation.

While we continue our climb through turbulence, MEPs are running out of time to ratify the treaty. If they don't pass it by 28th Feb then it's null and void. This means the EU might/will have to ask the UK to agree to an extension. I'd say we haven't got off to a great start with the new relationship and I don't think either party has been a model of virtue. Test now to see how the EU ask and how the UK respond.

Anyone want to go for sooner than that?

That'll be Victory gin and tonic.

We're back to the drip drip drip refrain again then?

And nibble some chocolate while you're at it. British chocolate, natch. A "victory", according to the Mirror...ref only... Fresh on the heels of the successful Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, the UK has scored another victory over Europe - Dairy Milk is coming home. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cadbury-dairy-milk-returns-bournville-23445257

Eurozone warehouse. Sit back and relax, IMHAL...

Don't worry, kzb, we've got Infinite Power! ref only... Instead of converting the suns rays, Infinite Power’s cells converts the radiation wave emitted from a radioisotope, which is an atom that has excess nuclear energy, into electricity. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-infinitepower-idUSKCN26G0RZ

So a 3rd country ban - there goes my cunning plan.