Madame EU: Ursula von der Leyen

It would seem that the Brussels “sources” and “diplomats” had nothing to say, yesterday,  to any of our MSM ‘Brussels correspondents’. No-one wrote another ‘love letter’, no new ponderous threats were made. Well, it’s not surprising when we see that the new head, the Juncker replacement Ms vdLeyen had given an interview each to the French paper “Les Echos” and the German “Der Spiegel”, thus pre-empting any gossip ‘en coulisse’.

Before I get to what she said, allow me to point out yet again how our MSM copy from each other. It’s not so difficult to find out: all you have to do is check the time at which the article in question was published. This particular piece of EU News was first ‘done’ by the DT, at 7.46pm yesterday (paywalled link). Then RemainCentral waded in, publishing their take on it at 12.00am this morning (link, paywalled), followed quickly by The Express (here) at 00.10am. Stunning, isn’t it!

What was this ‘important’ EU news about? Ms vdLeyen, unsurprisingly, was ‘very worried’ about Johnson’s timetable and told the French and German interviewers that it was ‘not feasible’: 

“The European Commission President said she had “serious concern” over Boris Johnson’s 11-month time frame in which to reach a new trade deal with the EU. “It’s not only about negotiating a free trade deal but many other subjects,” Ms Von der Leyen said in an interview with the French newspaper Les Echos. “It seems to me that on both sides we must ask ourselves seriously if all these negotiations are feasible in such a short time.” Ms Von der Leyen said.”I am very concerned about how little time we have. I think it would be reasonable to take stock in the middle of the year and, if necessary, agree on an extension to the transition period.” (paywalled link)

This ‘middle of the year’ hint about the alleged necessity of an extension is important. We know – he’s not been exactly secretive about it, after all! – that M Barnier envisages years of negotiations. Should therefore Johnson be coerced into giving way and asking for an extension, he must do so by the 30th of June 2020. That is the next milestone on our way Out, so mark it in your new diaries for 2020!

RemainCentral has given a rather interesting introduction to their report on the vdLeyen interviews:

“Brussels could struggle to negotiate a trade deal with Britain within the 11-month deadline set down by Boris Johnson, the new head of the European Commission has warned. Ursula von der Leyen, who replaced Jean-Claude Juncker at the start of the month, said she had “serious concern” over the limited time available for the negotiations.” (link, paywalled)

According to RemainCentral’s interpretation of vdLeyen’s interviews it’s Brussels having difficulties, allegedly, not us! Perhaps M Barnier’s hard stance hides the EU’s actual and well-placed fear of us achieving our Brexit? Are all the ‘difficulties’ actually not ours but those Brussels will face once we’re out? Is that why they threaten us before the event? Next:

“She also warned again that there would be “barriers” to UK/EU trade at the end of the transition period unless Mr Johnson walked away from his pledge not to follow European regulations after Brexit. […] “It’s not only about negotiating a free trade deal but many other subjects,” she said.” (link, paywalled)

‘Barriers’, and these ‘many other subjects’! She’s not naming one of them – perhaps she and M Barnier haven’t quite got round to finding suitable new ones? Is she not aware that there have been many negotiations going on in the last year alone, on ‘side deals’? This last quote is also illuminating:

“Should an agreement not be reached by the end of next year, Britain would trade with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms — with some of the potential disruption likely in a no-deal scenario. […] Asked what the response would be if London moved away from European standards, the Commission president said disruption was likely. “If we want to benefit from the prosperity of the single market, to access it without barriers or customs duties, we must all accept its common principles and values,” she said. “Otherwise, the two parties must agree on the barriers to be put in place.” (link, paywalled)

These are the new ‘horror words’ to watch out for: ‘disruption’ and ‘barriers’. The ubiquitous ‘cliff edge’ has so far only been alluded to – perhaps the MSM have cottoned on to the fact that we peasants now think it’s funny rather than scary.

The dreaded ‘No deal’, irrespective of numerous respected writers, lawyers and MPs having pointed out that there’s no such thing is, it seems to me, going to come back in a new guise: that of “WTO Rules”. What Ms vdLeyen, what the Remainers here and in Brussels aren’t saying is that trading that way is perfectly normal, even for the EU. Our friends at facts4eu write:

“85% of goods sales to EU come from countries with no deal – Latest EU report shows majority of non-EU world trades with EU without any ‘deal’.” (link)

Ah! Are they all crashing over cliff edges? Why aren’t we told? We can confidently say, as we pointed out yesterday, that Ms vdLeyen, M Barnier, the Brussels ruling clique, are not interested in trade deals, in smoothing the way for a prosperous cooperation between the UK and the EU. They are only interested in keeping us tied to Brussels as tightly as possible, to stymie any competition, to ‘achieve BRINO’.

Sir John Redwood writes in his diary this morning:

“Staying in the Customs Union, legislating to ensure our rules and laws stay in line with whatever the EU wants, being an external member of the single market and having to accept all their Directives are  not Brexit. The EU has been masterful in extending its reach ostensibly in the name of trade into a dazzling array of other governmental and legal areas. We end up with freedom of movement, large tax impositions and detailed laws on everything in the name of the single market. We wish to trade with the single market, as many other countries from around the world do everyday. They do so without accepting freedom of movement, or all the laws of the EU or without making budget contributions. They do so under WTO rules, which are superior even to EU laws, and are designed to facilitate trade between fellow members. “ (link)

Just so! I do wonder if our Remain correspondents in the MSM are aware of these facts. The clocks for this year are running down and while we look forward (not really!) to the return of the MPs in January when they will debate and amend this Bill – also on a tight schedule – Sir John Redwood sounds upbeat:

“The government is being urged to make sure all legal requirements and financial obligations end when we leave next December. They have also been persuaded to put in a Sovereignty clause to protect us against abuse of EU power during the Implementation period. The Committee stage of the Bill will give the government opportunity to strengthen the position, and in so doing strengthen its bargaining hand for the Free Trade Agreement  they seek in the discussions ahead with the EU. There is no need or desire to make further concessions on things like fish to secure a FTA.” (link)  

Finally, I cannot resist to draw your attention to something which is going to occupy our MSM in the coming weeks: the planned reshuffle of Johnson’s cabinet in February 2020. The DM (here) writes that, according to gossip (“it is believed”), the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is facing the sack! Oh! The DM then helpfully list a whole lot of other cabinet ministers which may share his fate.

The article  omits one name, that of the Leader of the House. He, if you recall, was allegedly going to be the first one for the chop. It just goes to show that gossip (‘en coulisse’!), nice for idle moments, must not be taken seriously. It’s nothing but an attempt to force a debate in the direction wanted by vested interests.

I wish our “Brussels” and “EU” correspondents would realise that their ‘sources’ are playing this same game with them. After all, we peasants have seen through this EU-Remain gossip-game! We’ll stay vigilant and 

KBO!

Photo by GUE/NGL