As we reported in July an EU-UK summit has been pencilled in for Spring 2025.
The summit would be between Keir Starmer and leaders of the EU institutions, rather than the EU27.
The summit would be between Keir Starmer and leaders of the EU institutions, rather than the EU27.
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The Welsh Guards mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Brussels. They were the first Allied soldiers to enter the city on 3 September 1944.
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The first EU-UK summit of the post-Brexit era is "mentally" pencilled in for spring 2025.
theguardian.com/politics/live/…
theguardian.com/politics/live/…
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Ursula von der Leyen and Keir Starmer to meet in late August, early September via @lisaocarroll per Tuesday politics liveblog.
Diary clashes prevented a meeting from happening later this week.
Diary clashes prevented a meeting from happening later this week.
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Ursula von der Leyen promises to strengthen relations with UK on energy, security and people-to-people contacts, if she gets a second term.
No reference to UK in her speech (no surprises there) other than mention of singing of Auld Lang Syne in EP 2020.
No reference to UK in her speech (no surprises there) other than mention of singing of Auld Lang Syne in EP 2020.
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Between writing about the VDL vote and UK-EU reset, I somehow ended up at a Surrealism exhibition today @FineArtsBelgium and found my favourite Magritte painting.
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A small step backwards for women in European politics: the new European parliament has only 39% women MEPs, slightly down on the previous assembly (41%).
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EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel both mention security in messages congratulating Keir Starmer.
Labour is pushing at an open door in seeking a foreign policy and security pact with the EU. Improving the economic relationship is more complicated.
Labour is pushing at an open door in seeking a foreign policy and security pact with the EU. Improving the economic relationship is more complicated.
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Sunset over the European Council and EU leaders have just started discussing top jobs. A little bit of #Brussels
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EU diplomats are crossing their fingers for a Brussels-based Hungarian EU presidency, i.e. technocratic chairing of meetings led by Hungarian officials in Brussels. Let's see how that works out...
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Paging Theresa May about Labour's plans for a "bespoke" deal on chemicals and mutual recognition agreements.
ft.com/content/d0a1f7…
ft.com/content/d0a1f7…
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The pro-European majority has got smaller, but hasn't disappeared.
EPP + S&D + Renew =398 seats 55.2% of total (59.1% share in 2019)
EPP + S&D + Renew + Greens = 451 seats 62.6% of total ( 69%).
EP projection (i.e. not final) around 20.30 CET
EPP + S&D + Renew =398 seats 55.2% of total (59.1% share in 2019)
EPP + S&D + Renew + Greens = 451 seats 62.6% of total ( 69%).
EP projection (i.e. not final) around 20.30 CET
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The European elections looked very different in 1984, as shown by this poster hanging in the European Parliament.
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Majorities in all four Visegrad countries are worried about media freedom. Concerns down significantly in Poland following the election of Donald Tusk, but have grown in Slovakia and Hungary. Research for the Committee for Editorial Independence
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Here I am, back at work after maternity leave. Looking forward to all your ideas and tips ☕️ ✏️ 🗳
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WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich has been jailed in Russia for one year, simply for doing his job.
Glad we joined Brussels journalists, led by @kimmackrael, plus diplomats and officials to run - walk for Evan this morning #istandwithEvan #JournalismIsNotACrime
Glad we joined Brussels journalists, led by @kimmackrael, plus diplomats and officials to run - walk for Evan this morning #istandwithEvan #JournalismIsNotACrime
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Those Brexit benefits in full:
🛃Freeports exist in the EU (whether that’s a good thing is another Q).
🩸 David Cameron negotiated flex on EU rules on sanitary products VAT when UK was in EU.
🍻 True, Brexit means more flexibility on alcohol VAT, but seems like small beer.
🛃Freeports exist in the EU (whether that’s a good thing is another Q).
🩸 David Cameron negotiated flex on EU rules on sanitary products VAT when UK was in EU.
🍻 True, Brexit means more flexibility on alcohol VAT, but seems like small beer.
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More fence-mending when Rishi Sunak met Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday. They agreed to develop "new working arrangement between UK agencies and Frontex", inc to tackle Channel crossings, but that's a long way short of a returns agreement.
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If you are in Brussels, go and see the @yellowribbonENG expo by Place Luxembourg- today, tomorrow only.
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At great personal risk, a Kherson resident wrote “Kherson is Ukraine” on this piece of fence during Russia’s occupation of the city. They also painted a yellow ribbon - symbol of Ukraine’s resistance. Now part of an exhibition outside Station Europe in Brussels.
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Since 2018 the British have had more confidence in the EU than either Parliament or the UK government.
And look how British confidence in the EU fell in the 1990s - the golden age of the euromyth, above all the myth of the European superstate.
theguardian.com/politics/2023/…
And look how British confidence in the EU fell in the 1990s - the golden age of the euromyth, above all the myth of the European superstate.
theguardian.com/politics/2023/…
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"No more pyjama injunctions in the middle of the night," says Conservative MEP Danny Kruger ref to ECHR Rwanda injunctions.
The ECHR decisions were announced at 7.35pm and 6.55pm CET i.e. not pyjama time for most of us.
The ECHR decisions were announced at 7.35pm and 6.55pm CET i.e. not pyjama time for most of us.
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"Clear and direct tension
with well-established and fundamental human rights standards, including under the ECHR."
Absolutely damning verdict on government's illegal migration bill from Council of Europe's human rights commissioner.
with well-established and fundamental human rights standards, including under the ECHR."
Absolutely damning verdict on government's illegal migration bill from Council of Europe's human rights commissioner.
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Almost a footnote. At the very end of draft EU summit conclusions, EU leaders welcome Windsor deal with the UK and call for implementation “in good faith”.
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When Andrea Leadsom was asked to name three real benefits of Brexit...
theguardian.com/politics/2023/…
theguardian.com/politics/2023/…
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And there is more. Northern Ireland has the “prize” of privileged access to the EU single market said Rishi Sunak. Via @AndrewSparrow
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Ukrainian and EU flags flying outside EU buildings, including here at the European Commission.
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If this is *really* true, it doesn't explain why David Frost and others are not prepared to wait for the verdict of the Northern Ireland assembly in 2024.
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Threats to unilaterally abandon the NI protocol do not give the UK any leverage over the EU at all. The opposite in fact, talks only really started moving forward when the bill was on the back burner.
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Volodymyr Zelenskiy is presented with a European flag, after addressing the European parliament. "This is our Europe," he said.
"Now I am here in order to defend our people’s way home." Russia, he said, was trying to annihilate European values through total war.
"Now I am here in order to defend our people’s way home." Russia, he said, was trying to annihilate European values through total war.
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And nearly six years on from "the row of the summer" he still does not see that the UK had become the demandeur and was in no position to set terms.
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Eurostar said “Brexit and a shortage of border officials were increasing the time it takes to process passengers” departing from St Pancras. Yep, can confirm.
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On the one hand Brexit means the UK economy will end up 4% smaller than it would have been (£100bn a year).
And British citizens have lost the automatic right to live and work in 27 other countries.
On the other hand, sparkling wine might be 10p - 50p cheaper ...
And British citizens have lost the automatic right to live and work in 27 other countries.
On the other hand, sparkling wine might be 10p - 50p cheaper ...
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The UK and EU have issued this carefully crafted joint statement about Northern Ireland protocol.
There is a lot of optimism in Brussels (more than I can remember in a long time).
And a lot of secrecy around the talks, which suggests they are in a more intense phase.
There is a lot of optimism in Brussels (more than I can remember in a long time).
And a lot of secrecy around the talks, which suggests they are in a more intense phase.
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It’s a sign of how bad EU-UK relations got under Boris Johnson that an agreement that the UK will do what it’s meant to do under the protocol (data access) is greeted as such a big step. Several more difficult points still in dispute.
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New - the UK gov has broken EU law on diesel fuel tax and should pay a €17m fine, a senior lawyer (advocate-general) at the European court of justice has said. So not the final judgement.
The case was brought during Brexit transition period.
The case was brought during Brexit transition period.
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Belgium's imports of Russian diamonds *are* falling fast - down 83% in August 22 compared to the same month the previous year - but the industry continues to argue against stopping the trade with Russia.
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Anyone who thinks the EU is going to give up the role of the ECJ in policing the Northern Ireland Protocol to stop Mark Francois/ERG bringing down the government really hasn't been paying attention...
PS - Mark Francois voted for this arrangement in 2019 as part of Brexit deal.
PS - Mark Francois voted for this arrangement in 2019 as part of Brexit deal.
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The EU really doesn't like the Swiss deal with Switzerland.
It spent most of 2016-2018 rejecting Swiss-style bespoke deals/mini deals.
thetimes.co.uk/article/britai…
It spent most of 2016-2018 rejecting Swiss-style bespoke deals/mini deals.
thetimes.co.uk/article/britai…
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A subtle protest. The infamous Léopold II statue behind the Royal Palace in Brussels has been daubed with red paint on the fingers.
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It's cherrypicking for EU purists, but could this one day be a way back to the EU for the UK?
An EU-UK customs union plus associate membership of the single market with right to vote, but not veto, as proposed by @AndrewDuffEU
dcubrexitinstitute.eu/2022/10/the-wa…
An EU-UK customs union plus associate membership of the single market with right to vote, but not veto, as proposed by @AndrewDuffEU
dcubrexitinstitute.eu/2022/10/the-wa…
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Uber whistleblower Mark MacGann about to give his first testimony since #Uberfiles leaks in July at the European Parliament.
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