Barnier – his ‘wish list’ …
The article by Pieter Cleppe in the DT has details of what he calls the EU’s ‘Brexit unicorn list’. It’ll be presented and debated at the EU Summit on the 13th of December – the same day when we’ll all be licking our wounds after the vote count. Under the title “As Britain goes to the polls, the EU is preparing a brand new list of ‘Brexit Unicorns’” (paywalled link) are some jaw-dropping details. Apparently they believe in the EU that Johnson will get a majority. If, as some comment posters now start to believe, it’ll be Corbyn & Swinson in No 10 – don’t believe her for a moment when she said she wouldn’t support him! The lure of power will be too great to resist! – then we and the EU need have no worries. It’ll be Remain, on worse terms.From the article (my emphasis):
“But what will the EU be demanding? Statements and leaks from Brussels suggest the following.
Their first demand will be that Boris Johnson breaks his promise not to extend the eleven months transition period if he wants a proper trade deal. As one EU diplomat put it, “the choice is either no deal Brexit 2.0 or to extend the transition period.” Another senior EU diplomat added that “not in my wildest dreams would I imagine” the possibility of the EU agreeing a zero-tariff, zero-quota deal by 2020, which would permit divergence from EU rules on workers’ rights and environmental protections.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said that trade and security will be prioritised, but “we cannot do everything in 11 months, we will need more time.” It would be possible, he conceded, to negotiate “the principle elements” of a free-trade agreement to avoid an economic cliff edge before the end of 2020. Only covering part of cross-Channel trade, however, this would be expected to hurt UK services access.
Even if the UK did request a transition extension, it would be on the extra condition of paying a “proportional” contribution to the EU budget. Though there are potential ways to fudge this, for example, by amending the Withdrawal Agreement itself by retroactively changing the provisions for transition extension, the EU’s cooperation will still be needed.” (paywalled link)
Keen Brexiteer eyes will immediately have spotted the condition of paying ‘a proportional contribution’ to the EU. Why all the Red and Yellows always blame ‘Toree Austeritee’ when in fact the money we could use here goes into the bottomless coffers of the EU is beyond me … Next (my emphasis):
“A second EU demand is that the UK agrees to grant the EU access to British fishing waters before the end of June, and it sees this as a pre-condition for any trade deal. An EU diplomat adds that the fisheries issue, where the UK is seen by many to have a strong negotiation position, “needs to be resolved by June, so in four months.” According to the withdrawal agreement, the decision on whether or not to extend the transition is also due by then.
Thirdly, the EU will demand so-called level playing field commitments to guarantee that the UK will not undercut European social, tax and environmental standards to gain competitive advantage after Brexit. If not, the UK should expect a response in kind; Barnier has warned that “access to our markets will be proportional to the commitments taken to the common rules”. He even redefined a refusal to copy the EU’s failing model of excessive regulation when exporting to continental Europe as “dumping”.” (paywalled link)
That comes under ‘what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is also mine, and anything left on the floor is mine as well’. Do not be surprised if many Leavers and Remainers who want this done and over with will think that we might as well Remain and vote Red or Yellow. They may also vote anything else just to punish Blue. To continue (my emphasis):
“Fourthly, security cooperation will be a further condition of an EU-UK trade agreement, specifically, finding an alternative to the European arrest warrant and providing access to crime-fighting databases.
In this regard, EU officials have pointed out that if the UK becomes a competitor and diverges, this will not only result in reduced EU market access, but it will also hurt cooperation in other areas. One official explains “We want leverage in these areas”, “to keep the UK in the continental Europe’s orbit”. In the past, the EU and the UK have cited aviation, carbon pricing, anti-money laundering, illegal migration, data protection and sanctions on rogue states as areas of post-Brexit cooperation.
“A fifth demand is that the new relationship should be governed by a single overarching deal, instead of a patchwork of bilateral agreements, which is for example the case in the EU-Swiss relationship. The latter has been rocky lately, due to EU attempts to push a single framework onto the Swiss, which would force them to accept the power of the European Court of Justice and to align with EU rules in return for market access.” (paywalled link)
It is the same EU power grab we’ve come to know and detest in the Brexit negotiations. Now it comes with more particulars, but the aim is the same: keep us subjugated and punish us every which way. Do not forget the reasons behind this: the dodgy state of the economies in EU member states and the need for more and more money from us to keep Germany and France happy. And don’t forget that most of the metropolitan Remain elite is depending on EU money … Here are the concluding paragraphs, describing the ‘dream’ of EU bureaucrats gone all misty-eyed about exerting their power over us in perpetuity:
“The EU does consider there to be separate areas of cooperation and roughly sees three key ones: trade, security and research. It however wants everything to depend on everything else. They will likely demand some kind of permanent framework in place to govern the relationship, with a coordinating body and two EU-UK summits per year.
There’s more. The European Union will also attempt to make the UK sign up to freedom of movement in return for tariff-free market access. Barnier has repeatedly spoken of the link between the frictionless movement of goods and people. Never mind the well-documented exceptions to this rule; the EU for example carved off free movement of people from its trade deal with Ukraine.
This is an extraordinarily ambitious wish list, and one which seems especially ludicrous given EU officials’ tendency to accuse the UK of “unicorn thinking”. Still, it is Christmas I suppose…” (paywalled link)
Yes, Christmas is coming, and on my list to Santa Claus is that we leave on WTO rules. It can be done, but I suppose I also ought to ask Santa Claus to hand out steely spines and brass balls to Johnson and his negotiators. If it’s Red in Downing Street, then I’ll ask him to grant us all the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the dictators in grey suits, here and in Brussels, so that we can show them that we’re prepared to defend our democracy with all the means we possess. As the terrorist attack last week showed, our spirit of defiance is not dead yet!
Thank you Viv I’ve read to the bottom of it now. I love your phrase ‘intestinal fortitude. What I do not understand is what ‘Open Europe’ is trying to do here. If they are saying – look at all you will lose by leaving us surely it is counter productive to issue threats about how difficult they will make it. Is that the aim? – Look it is SO difficult to get out of Article 50 – you might as well vote Remain now.
It reminds me of John Redwoods analysis of the Cameron’s ‘vote remain’ campaign for the referendum. It was totally negative and pessimistic. Hence, it failed. Fingers crossed.
It was not that long ago that some Englishmen were saying “Heil Hitler”. If they were alive today …
I read a few words from Brussels and had to stop ‘If he (Boris) wants a proper trade deal’ Proper? That of course is what the EU thinks proper. We will have to extend. E r r r BRUSSELS are you listening? Can you hear us? S**D your trade deal. WE DON’T NEED IT.
Pauline Baxter is absolutely right! We do not need any kind of deal with the EU. We must leave on WTO rules if we are to regain our independance and national sovereignty. There is no other way!,
TRADE IS A MUTUAL UNDERTAKING, as one wishes to sell and one wishes to buy ! Perhaps the EU are prepared to change this basic to the glory of the almighty EU ? ! ….. It seems that some British are willing to swallow this nonsense !
This is an item that the Remain lovers would do well to ponder. – Are they prepared to meekly accept this matter, in that as an EU member we are obliged to maintain our allegiance forever ? – Yet in 2016 the British said enough !
In 1940 we stood alone, against a maniac’s wishes to unite Europe for the glory of Germany. – It was not easy, and by war it was expensive in so many ways ! Are we now to accept that by their laws and their treaties, we are obliged to be part of the EU in one way or another ?
A monopoly does not exist upon anything, and in free trade with the world, all is possible ! ….. How dare they make such demands upon us, and why do our politicos seem to go along with this fatuous stupidity ?
Fear of UK/GB doing rather well outside the EU is a huge factor. – Many EU members have Parties wishing to leave, but they wish to see how we get on first. – This is quite usual, and I see it as our duty to lead ! – This is why we are so very different to the EU 27 ! – Go to it now on WTO !
Mike Maunder : “Fear of UK/GB doing rather well outside the EU is a huge factor. “Barnier himself admitted thist:
A good and necessary presentation. If only UKIP had not been trashed by its various previous “leaders” aka “carpet baggers”. Maybe it can come back, unfortunately not in time for the present battle, but the war will go on.
Hi friend Mary good to see you again, hope you are OK
Thanks for a very definitive posting – it was a true “Brainewave” and very valuable if any of our dunderheads care to use it.
Love and xxxx Roger
PS where did this chap appear from I`ve lost touch with UKIP although they took £15 out of my bank last month so I assume I`m still a member
Would that we had an army of Mike Maunders!
Mike!…….Mike!………Mike! ……..THEY’RE NOT LISTENING……………..!!!!!
My advice? Just tell them to dive out and get
1. A Prayer Mat
2. A copy of the Koran
3. The White Flag of Surrender.
They should be told to go to hell; WTO is fine. If only we had a PM with the guts to do it.
Kipling:
It was not part of their blood,It came to them very late
With long arrears to make good,
When the English began to hate.
They were not easily moved,
They were icy-willing to wait
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the English began to hate.
Their voices were even and low,
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show,
When the English began to hate.
It was not preached to the crowd,
It was not taught by the State. No man spoke it aloud,
When the English began to hate.
It was not suddenly bred,
It will not swiftly abate,
Through the chill years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the English began to hate.
This Englishman has already developed a deep hatred…
Jack Thomas – another snatch of Kipling perhaps……..
“For its Tommy this, and Tommy that,
An’ kick ‘I’m out the brute……
But it’s saviour of ‘is country,
When the guns begin to shoot”.
Yes, I wonder……..I just wonder……..!
Kipling says it so well ! ….. From the late 1980s I did not like the concept of the EU, but now I hate the very mention of it, – but then I am an Englishman, unwilling to see our Nation dictated to, and ‘managed’ by Europe !
What an extraordinary wish list Barnier is drawing up! It seems that we will be allowed to leave the EU as long as we obey all their laws and regulations, allow them to dictate all our terms of business, let as many people into the UK as they want, pay them billions of pounds, not become a competitor, obey the rulings of the ECJ, agree an alternative to the European arrest warrant and allow them to take all our fish.
Just what is the difference between agreeing all this and remaining in the bloc? If the new Prime Minister, whoever he is, agrees these terms, he’ll have a revolution on his hands.
he’ll have a revolution on his hands – really?
I’d like to think so, but seeing nothing but apathy all around me, I would say wishful thinking.
And me? I too want change. Now, where’s my yellow vest.
Oh, and you missed the bit about a gobby girl from gabon going to court, ensuring that we meet all the common market needs.
….a revolution? Depend’s what’s on TV!
Debbie – Quite! So what on earth is the point of just not voting at all?
Did we not see the EU/Barnier Plan from the start……
Well, SOME OF US DID!!!!!!!
Men fought and died so that we could have the vote…….
And we now have ‘people’ telling them NOT to vote.
Tell me I am not going mad…………….
The ONLY man who could have played the cards when sitting down with Barnier…..Farage.
How long will it be before the eyes of the British people are finally opened?
AFTER THE HORSE HAS BOLTED!
I don’t have a true leaver to vote for and Farage has messed up big time standing down candidates and now being screwed by the traitors who infiltrated his so-called party. He now knows how UKIP feels. He had everything to play for and fell for the trap. Despite not having any representation I will stick with UKIP, their Manifesto actually works.
I expect there to be quite a few Brexit Party ‘supporters’ seeking a new political home – UKIP hopefully.
Debbie – Revolution? Gotta laugh! the Brits have been totally neutered – partly by their ignorance, partly ineptitude, partly cowardice, partly by the OWNERS of this country – I say again – The Men in Grey Suits – who also OWN the press, yes the Press Barons ( I hope a note has been taken of who has just bought The i. ..? ) they ‘did for’ Maggie, bless her….. and they have largely ‘done for’ Farage.
It was not really difficult for the ‘real powers that be’ to totally outwit the people – simply because for the most part , the people ARE WITLESS.
I am now in my own little cocoon, in some ways having laugh really, yet on the other exasperated by my kinsmen (not the immigrants – I expect it from them!) but what WERE my own kith and kin.
They are so neutered (thick!) and irresponsible and downgraded as a Nation, they truly DESERVE what’s coming to them.
“Ere’ Trev, buy another new Chinese phone – they’re ONLY a grand, you’ve ‘ad yours two weeks awlready!; Stick another few quid on the foota, the ‘orses, the dogs, Netflix, anuvver bottle or two of Presseco (or whatever they call that crap!).
Death …….where is thy sting?
Mrpaul. It does feel like DUNKIRK at the moment doesn’t it. BUT we invaded NORMANDY. (Where ‘they’ came from – 1066.) We will fight them. We will not surrender. We will not extend.
Deer, Dear Pauline…..I do so much admire your love of our fantastic country. I see also that YOUR Dunkirk Spirit remains unquenched. Bless you!
Ever so sadly…….we are no longer living in those days when we had men and women with a moral fibre beyond our dreams……. those dreams have not just faded but have dissolved into a living nightmare…….we are now living a grim reality – we are now expected to place our trust in 650 (give or take a dozen or so) charlatans (remember the Monumental Expenses Scandal!) whose sole purpose in life is to live as long as they possibly can off the State – just as long as they can lie their way into power.
I well recall my father saying to me, (what now seems a hundred years ago! (I think it surfaced via the London Stock Exchange) …….Son, Remember My WORD is my Bond.
I nowadays look and despair – I see around me those 650 disgraceful , childish, insincere, lying, untrustworthy wasters in whom we are supposed to place our trust, with our hopes for the future.
To a man, and woman, they are third-rate Uri Gellers – spoon-benders, manipulators using smoke and mirrors to try and hide their ineptitude and cowardice. And Boris is now their Arch Wizard, If it were not so dangerous and disastrous it would be LAUGHABLE. Boris will not serve a penalty for his lying, treachery ……they never do!
This Great country of ours WILL pay the penalty – but quite frankly it looks like we will get WHAT WE DESERVE.
SERVITUDE to the EU Empire.
Good luck!
Ah but Debbie – if only we got Jo Swinson in no.10 – you see she has now changed her message to how she alone would Reform the EU from within ! Oh I’m being sarcastic of course.
🙂