What Does EU's Tough Line on Agreements Mean?

The EU Commission have said that the UK needs to implement existing brexit agreements before working on further areas of co-operation. This is sparking fake fury amongst brexiteers, but also acts as a lesson to those wanting the UK to join the single market as if it were a simple thing. Even actually simple agreements are not going to be possible in the short term, so full single market access is a long way off.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @adifferentbias
/ adifferentbias
/ philmoorhouse76
FT article (paywall): www.ft.com/con...
Express article: www.express.co...

[@JohnSmall314]

The EU isn't issuing 'demands' it's merely asking that we implement the deal Johnson signed up to.

[@JohnRussell-y3m]

It’s not the EU’s fault Boris and the Tories didn’t understand it.

[@aleph8888]

The EU needs to observe the SPS rules in Chapter 3 of the TCA that require SPS checks be based on scientific risk not a third country standard like so many seem to think.

[@adrien5834]

@@aleph8888 Precaution principle. Everything is a risk until demonstrated safe, and that's up to the third country.

[@br5380]

@@aleph8888 it is though the EU that 'decides' the risk

[@Pierluigi_Di_Lorenzo]

Is the EU demanding that the UK does what it has signed into law before negotiating further deals, or is it merely saying the UK should do so ?

[@Ant.Gib.]

How dare the EU ask the UK to honour the deal it signed?! Absolutely disgusting! 😊

[@andreteelen6266]

Britain being reliable as ever

[@ulfosterberg9116]

​@@andreteelen6266Uk honouring agreements. Thats unheard of.

[@SeArCh4DrEaMz]

what an evil empire !

[@aidanclarke6106]

Probably a conspiracy from the French 😅

[@AllanWilliama]

​@@SeArCh4DrEaMz evil empire he forgot about other countries like😅😅😅😅😅

[@martinschlegel1823]

As an EU citizen: it is total english hubris to me (and yes I’ll blame England and not the whole UK as Scotland and Ireland voted against the brexit), that they expect being treated better than what they signed up for, being able to pick and choose which of the rules they agreed to, to actually implement etc. It’s basically colonial Britain thinking, “we are so great, everyone should be grateful if we even stick to parts of what we promised” no. If you didn’t want to implement certain things you shouldn’t have promised them. I’m absolutely sad about Brexit and I’d like to see Britain back in the EU and until then at least closer aligned. But by the love of god, don’t expect any special treatment anymore.

[@mpmansell]

To be fair, this is not only a UK thing. Many other nations have morons who feel the same way, especially here in Central Europe.

[@Dank-o-Dave]

I'm a rejoiner but i'm also aware that all the bridges got burned by Boris and Co when we left, the bridges need replacing before we can have even have a sniff of getting back into Europe in any meaningful way.

[@edvandegraaf484]

Getting back in Europe? The Uk is not a part of Europe at the present?

[@HighlyImprobableName]

You missed the massive fleet of tugboat towing the islands into the pacific? Hadn't you wondered about the recent heatwave.

[@theresoluteone]

They got burned and then the ground was nuked.

[@theresoluteone]

@@edvandegraaf484 Brexit, so no

[@brianferguson7840]

Problem is, You can't rejoin the European Union ! It's not your choice and never will be. When britain joined the original Common Market, there were a handful of members, and it still took eleven years to convince them to agree to have you. Now there are twenty seven member states, and you have proven beyond any possible doubt how untrustworthy and mendacious you are and that you have absolutely no concept of the true European ideal. You voted to leave, you left ! And we don't want you back ! Why would we ????

[@ronaldderooij1774]

The fact that the UK press is annoyed and surprised by this "demand" from the EU, is worrying in itself.

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

The British believe in their own national superiority to the rest of the human race and consider rules and agreements as diplomatic weapons that only apply to others.

[@holymoley1920]

Nah..they are just ''preaching to the converted'' and making money off them...bit like trump, really ;)

[@maxharbig1167]

Isn't all that worrying for the EU 27.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

UK press is always outraged about something. And they're free to walk away at the end of the day.

[@wodmarach]

They aren't annoyed, it's fake rage to sell their rags. Most of their writers don't even believe in Brexit.

[@frankteunissen6118]

There is another reason that the EU will be very reluctant to sign any new agreement with the UK. The Brexiteers in the Tory and Reform parties are breathing fire about how they’ll immediately cancel any and all agreements with the EU when they win any election in the future. So the EU are thinking that maybe there isn’t much point in going to a lot of trouble to negotiate something with the UK if it could be flipped over in a few years’ time. The EU will want to see Brexitism reduced to a marginal, insignificant factor of political life in the UK before they’ll seek a closer relationship.

[@lindabastable3021]

To be fair PR would take care of any possibility of ever having any brexiteer with sufficient power to alter any EU agreements Labour can manage to get.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

Exactly. If there is to be any rebuilding of relations beyond rhetoric, we need to know that what is put on paper and signed will actually happen and it won't be a waste of time to be torn when someone else takes over. We're asking for stability and predictability in our relations, instead of signing a deal now and ripping it the next day or breaching it in "a limited and specific way".

[@samhartford8677]

@@lindabastable3021 I see the benefit of PR to the UK, absolutely, but I think you are being a bit unrealistic of the character of Brits. I lived in the UK for almost a decade, and it was obvious to me the UK would vote out. Why? Because the condescending attitudes even towards me (a Scandinavian with a post-graduate degree with almost native English skills plus speaking fluently another foreign language I needed as a manager in my job in the UK and later as a academic/Ph.D. student in the UK) were evident. Add to that that turn-out is always better for people who want to vote for change than for those who vote for the status quo, in a 50-50 situation, it was more likely that Leave would win. Just saying as somebody with a Ph.D. in Politics. Add to that the fact that I've followed the UK discussion on Brexit for eight years now (both the leaver and the remainer/rejoiner ones) and my conclusion is that about 75% of the voices were/are either euro-skeptic or British exceptionalists. And British exceptionalism is not a way forward anymore. If the UK wants to return, it needs to want to join the ever-closer fiscal union with euro. It needs to be the established, sound opinion of over 60% of the population, because we do not want to import your psychodrama over the EU back into the UK, because you blocked reforms and policies that would have helped the rest of us. We do not need another obstructionist member in the EU.

[@ab-ym3bf]

It is not confined to "brexiter ism". The EU will want to see a reliable nation for a longer period of time, no matter who is at the helm.

[@colinsmith1288]

@@frankteunissen6118 lt no longer matters. The Uk is drifting away from the eu. The Uk is becoming more insular and is doubling down. Yes Starmer will honour agreements not yet implemented. But he knows the Uk's relationship with the eu is all but finished. Eu citizens will still visit the Uk in their millions and the Uk will visit the eu in their millions. In my village l have seen three eu cars already today.. German. French and Dutch. The beauty of the island still remains a magnet for europeans who enjoy our green pastures,moorlands and mountains. So it is bye bye.

[@martinh8784]

Greetings from Germany! My son and I moved to Bremen in October 2023 as Brexit refugees and live and work here now. In the EU, Brexit is all but forgotten. The EU has more urgent challenges at hand: Ukraine, the US Election in November, the Eastward expansion, the relationship with Turkey, and so on. I am unsurprised that the EU does not even want to discuss this can of worms since the downsides are 95% on the UK side. Their point of view is looking at the UK like someone who has gotten off the rails and saying, "Sort yourself out, brush yourself up, and when you have come to your senses, come back and let's talk again." Personally, I cannot see that the EU will put much effort into the UK for another 10 to 15 years. Maybe when the rebuilding of Ukraine is well underway, the Eastern expansion will settle in.

[@perkinscrane]

I think that Germany has a few problems with its policy towards Ukraine. Brexit and the EU not withstanding.

[@susannehartl3067]

Belated welcome in Germany. Greetings from the South-West!

[@RealMash]

I have worked in Bremen. Exceptional nice people, good choice. Welcome in Germany from the french Border.

[@robertjones8083]

Brexiteers think the EU thinks about Brexit 24/7/365.

[@saba1030]

Belated welcome to Bremen/Germany...good choice 😁 Greetings from Bremen 🍻👋

[@deannilvalli6579]

Britain finds it unfair that they should have to keep their word. Another example of great British hypocrisy and great British arrogance. Brits are outraged that they have to honor the terms of an agreement they sign.

[@DirtyJokesFan]

Well we know that BoJo’s signature on a binding agreement, such as his marriage certificates and the TCA, is flexible in his mind but has much wider consequences for everyone else. We’ll be suffering from BoJo and his party’s incompetence for years yet.

[@basilpunton5702]

Sounds a lot like tRump in the USA.

[@roderickjoyce6716]

Incompetence, malice, corruption, ignorance and stupidity. FIFY.

[@Omega0850]

@@basilpunton5702 And just like in the US, the Brexiteers cannot blame their politicians for the lies they willingly believed, while dismissing all voices inside and outside of Britain that told them what would happen if they leave.

[@jmolofsson]

A treaty may be considered irrelevant by the ex-PM, while remaining binding for the state of the United Kingdom.

[@MrsGardiner]

@@jmolofsson It is actually equally binding on the EU, who have negotiated, signed and ratified it too, not only Britain. And they wish to stick with it. Because their signature was in good faith, not like Johnson's. End of argument. It takes two to tango, something that Starmer clearly also needs to learn. The EU has negotiated, signed and ratified - Barnier has taken his coat and hat and has gone home - and the treaty is in the filing cabinet with all the other international treaties. To be kept to and to provide certainty for both sides. Job done. Finished. Now live by it Britain, stop pestering because you want something better. EU countries and businesses want the certainty of exactly this TCA, not British continued pestering and drama. It is utterly pathetic.

[@michaellawrence7570]

Hope the brexiters are happy now and stop their whinging

[@RecycledBikes-jj]

Yeah, right....

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

​@RecycledBiks-jj Brexmoaners

[@iandennis7836]

Brexshitters will only be happy when Europe is in flames........sad, innit.😢

[@malcolmgibson6288]

Brexiteers will never be content, they just like to moan and blame everyone else for the crap that they have caused.

[@buntyjoy1800]

They are blaming Muslims now whilst setting fire to working class towns

[@arctic_haze]

The demand that UK should finally implenent existing agreements is so obvious that I do not believe anyone can be honestly annoyed by it.

[@JohnRussell-y3m]

The Tories never understood what they were agreeing to, and somehow they think they can blame the EU for that..

[@ulfosterberg9116]

Farage says. Hold my beer.

[@maxharbig1167]

@@JohnRussell-y3m Ignoratia lex non excusat.

[@holymoley1920]

They can't. Not honestly.

[@PanglossDr]

They are no, they are lying and posturing as they always have.

[@demos113]

EU to GB: "you can't have dessert until you've eaten all your veg". 🙃

[@errorswillmultiply1697]

GLOBAL BRITAIN: I hate you! You never let me do _anything!_

[@patrickcunniff5936]

The GFA must be enforced and the actions Britain took independently must be remedied. Otherwise the Republic of Ireland will veto anything.

[@jerakala890]

And rightly so.

[@Arltratlo]

i trust in the French, to keep the Brits out of the EU for a century!

[@jmwadding]

@@Arltratlo Remember Agincourt. I imagine the French do. Payback. 😄

[@Hauke-ph5ui]

@@jmwadding That's the British (and DUP) way of thinking. Contential Europeans don't waste a single thought on events that happened hundreds of years ago. There are enough actual problems that need to be solved, we don't need petty backwards thinking like the Tories and the DUP do.

[@wodmarach]

@@Hauke-ph5ui You made a mistake in the first sentence it's not a "British" way of thinking it's a right wing way of thinking, most people in the UK don't give a shit about wars from the past except to remember the loss of life.

[@scottwithe3946]

I'm absolutely sick of Tories blaming everyone but themselves for the 14 year shit show we've all been through

[@ab-ym3bf]

Just imagine how sick the EU is of the UK, blaming them for all their problems for almost 50 years.

[@incognito253]

This is the basis of all modern right-wing politics, though. All of it. They pass policies that undermine critical parts of government infrastructure then use that as an excuse to point how X government program doesn't work while pointing at their political opponents for being the inept ones (when they themselves passed the policy) then throw up their hands and say "WELP. Nothing to do but PRIVATIZE it!" The moment right-wing politics stops being disingenuous, it has to admit that its politics is fundamentally about handing power to the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, and you can't just up and say that, so all you're left with is attacking and blaming literally anyone else for everything you do wrong. They have no achievements of things they did right to pivot to and hang their hat on.

[@Taladar2003]

The last thing anyone in the EU wants is to give Britain some sort of special, custom kind of membership again. That would just encourage the British exceptionalism belief.

[@1258-Eckhart]

Mate, you're so right. That is one of the bigger losses of Brexit - all that rebate and opt-out nonsense will never be on offer again.

[@swangelok]

Biggest mistake of the EU was to give he UK opts outs and exceptions and rebates. The rationale was to keep them happy and eventually the UK would gravitate towards the idea of the union In fact it fed the idea of british exceptionalism and the ever increasing demands which continue to this day even among remainers Never again

[@countottovanshanoo822]

EU : "Show us we can trust you, right now we don't - you have form."

[@getnohappy]

But who's the 'you' here? Somewhat disingenuous to suggest the new Labour Government is anything like that rabid headline chasing popularists we just removed from power.

[@countottovanshanoo822]

@@getnohappy "you" is the UK government. True, we have a new far more sensible government, but what about 4-5 years time? They are going to reassuring that whoever wins the next election isn't going to go back to the swivel-eyed loons ways.

[@JohnSmall314]

@@getnohappy "Somewhat disingenuous to suggest the new Labour Government is anything like that rabid headline chasing popularists we just removed from power." Actions speak louder than words. So far we've only had words from the Labour Party, but their actions don't match the words. They say they want deeper EU integration, and then walk away from an offer of free movement for young people.

[@RealMash]

@@getnohappyT he British Government is the Beritish Government.we do not talk to parties, we talk to a country. So the British Government has been evil and untrustworthy. A new party in power changes nothing, until we see actual change for a decade or so. Actions have consequences.

[@cphcph12]

Unfortunately international treaties are negotiated between states, governments only represent that state. In this case that means that the eu is well aware of the changes in government but that in itself changes nothing. The eu still expects all valid agreements between uk and eu to be handled correctly. In other words keep your promises or explain honestly and truthfully why a promised action is impossible and talk about that.

[@richardblackmore348]

Boris Johnson. Two Tory prime ministers and a change of government ago. And still the smell lingers on.

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

We know. Some stench remains even though the UK knackered off.

[@karlsantos]

People should have learned from the banana story he made up. Instead they gave him power.

[@normanchristie4524]

Don't forget to include Cameron and May, they could have cancelled the whole thing. The Tories WANTED their so-called brexit.

[@user-go4vz2ir6r]

OH! I almost stepped in a pile of Boris Johnson! Close one!

[@TheSuzberry]

EU to UK: You demanded a divorce going back on our merger agreement, now show you can live by our new agreement. Then we’ll talk.

[@gloin10]

There is NO “…tough line…” from the EU. There is just a simple statement that the EU expects the UK to implement the things that the UK agreed to do when it signed and ratified the Withdrawal Agreement, the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and the Windsor Framework. The European Commission also made it clear that there is ZERO prospect of any new discussions between the EU and the UK UNLESS and UNTIL the UK does actually implement ALL the stuff it committed itself to. Possibly the British need to open a dictionary and check the definition of the word ‘Demand’?

[@roisinmalone3015]

Yep 👍

[@roisinmalone3015]

@@peterminton8105 😂. The Eurozone is doing fine, France Italy Spain, Germany is going through a difficult patch, but you don't understand the EU, it's there to help its fellow member states.. That's why Britain or England was always unsuitable as a member state, it wanted the benefits but was never a team player and England is incapable of that.

[@w47w]

....Peterminton....You seem to have been trained by Farage to be a stupid talker! Germany has solved the energy problem within a very short time. Renewable energy expansion was a record last year and is even higher this year! The economy is undergoing a huge upheaval and is completely realigning itself. If Germany wanted to, it could bring the entire chip production to the EU, as it has the unique selling point worldwide in lithography machines for chip production!!! It has already started in some areas. In other areas of industry it also has a unique selling point worldwide. It has reduced its GDP debt from over 80% to 63% in just a few years! It could take on 2 trillion in EU debt to be just as bad as the UK with over 100% GDP debt! The UK can only dream of that. EU in decline? That applies to the UK and it will soon fall apart. With Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the like, EU citizens have no problem with joining the EU quickly! The comments from these GB countries are anything but pleasing for GB.

[@astree214]

and also check the verb "to agree with ..."

[@Bezayne]

@@peterminton8105 So what you are saying is the existence of the whole EU hinged on that one gas pipeline. Makes me wonder why noone in the EU then was smart enough to see that, lol. Anyhow, Germany isn't crashing, a downturn in economy has happened before and got turned around, it will happen again. The EU is certainly doing better than Brexit Britain.

[@kemback1086]

Imagine the cheek of those foreigners expecting the UK to honour existing agreements.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

How do these agreements benefit buyers or sellers in the EU, in any way?

[@MrsGardiner]

@@lochnessmunster1189 If it wasn't beneficial, they would not have negotiated, signed and ratified it in exactly this way. They are not stupid. And EU negotiators are in a class of their own, because they have a lot of experience negotiating deals. Nobody in the EU wants a better agreement, only the Brits do. It may be that you don't understand this, but you have to take on trust that they are happy with it, whereas Britain is not!

[@chrislaurenceleo]

The EU have been honest and honourable all the way through this disaster. Sadly our tory government of the time were the complete opposite not just to the EU but also to the British public. We now have the difficult job of building new bridges with the EU.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

no need. The EU does nothing that actual free trade cannot do.

[@batcollins3714]

​@@lochnessmunster1189Hahahahahaha! What a plonker😆

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@batcollins3714 Prove me wrong, please. And show how the EU's government is better than individual countries' governments.

[@MrsGardiner]

@@lochnessmunster1189 Just for starters, the EU combined forces get far better trade deals than the pathetic British ones. Even lost the roll over deal with Canada when Badenoch walked away in a temper because she did not get her way! Canada of course is well connected with USA and Mexico and also has a good trade deal with the EU.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@MrsGardiner Why do there NEED to be trade deals in the first place? How is this better than direct liaison with buyer and seller?

[@jak1590]

Theres one simple message here NEVER TRUST A TORY AND NEVER ALLOW THEM IN TO GOVERNMENT AGAIN.

[@erikaclose5998]

Labour as well.

[@ab-ym3bf]

Outside the UK we have a wider view. Never trust an englishman. I think there's even a song about that...

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@ab-ym3bf Every single Englishman?

[@1258-Eckhart]

I sincerely hope that can happen.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@1258-Eckhart Labour are on their way to bankrupting the country even faster than the last Conservative government did.

[@ausoleil8269]

The UK was a pain while in the EU, and since out of the EU. No reason to believe you wont be so in the future. Almost nobody wants you back.

[@emm_arr]

"Almost nobody wants you back." No need to lie.

[@ausoleil8269]

@@emm_arr I really think some still want the UK back in, even when nobody can reasonably believe any promise they make.

[@w47w]

@@ausoleil8269 ou really are very wrong! You wouldn't believe how unpopular the UK is in the EU Parliament and among EU citizens. Farage and Co have done a great job in the EU Parliament with hate triads and insults against the EU and its citizens. This was even shown on EU television in the main news!

[@emm_arr]

@@w47w "Farage and Co have done a great job in the EU Parliament" No. They just looked like ar5eholes with emotional maturity issues. "This was even shown on EU television in the main news!" Of course it was. It was a childish performance orchestrated to grab news headlines.

[@lordsummerisle852]

​@@w47wFarage has never insulted EU citizens. Just the basket case authoritarian federalist superstate EU. 4th Reich

[@paulboath5310]

I don’t think the EU is taking a tough line, just saying you signed these agreements, now implement what you agreed to, simple!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Absolutely right, but the media have to twist the facts to make them fit their narrative, thus the talk of "demands", when in truth there are none.

[@patrickokeeffe539]

So the UK needs the EU more than they need the UK. So 1st implement the Brexit agreement, or no other agreements.

[@RealMash]

No further agreements. What does Britain offer for us to consider it?

[@sweetwilliam4199]

No extra negotiations are needed. Britain wants favours not vice versa

[@johnmboon]

Short of declaring wars, Brexit is the single most stupid thing ever done in politics. It's like running at a brick wall over and over again.

[@Iskelderon]

Only the Tories could've managed to impose trade sanctions on their own country.

[@AndyM_323YYY]

Stupid? I fear the Brexiters knew exactly the harm they were going to cause and simply did not care.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@AndyM_323YYY The EU is pointless; it seems to 'fix' problems caused by too much government in the member-states, in the first place.

[@AndyM_323YYY]

@@lochnessmunster1189 If you think being a member of the most powerful trading bloc on the planet is pointless you have a very bad case of Dunning-Kruger syndrome.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@AndyM_323YYY There is no need for trading blocs. How in any way do they improve the buyer-seller interactions?

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

Didnt Gove say that we can sign anything and then ignore it ?

[@ulfosterberg9116]

I guess the privately educated cokehead with the floppy ears said that. All these "educated" English people live in a world where the EMPIRE is still there. Sadly it isn't.

[@martinh8784]

Do you mean the Gove who bravely ran away? Brave, brave, brave, Sir Michael?

[@WaterShowsProd]

That's what happens when you listen to coke-heads.

[@blechtic]

Technically that's true but that sort of behaviour has consequences. It's no different to committing crimes or breaching contracts: you can simply do those things and be as stupid about it as you wish but that doesn't mean there can't be any consequences to your actions.

[@raymondpenn1066]

No matter how long I study Brexit longing to return, it amazes me just how few people it took to totally shaft an entire nation.

[@jimpaddy79]

Well, over have of voters chose of there own free will to totally shaft the nation

[@lochnessmunster1189]

The EU is a pointless organisation which does nothing that free trade cannot do by itself.

[@saba1030]

​@@lochnessmunster1189😂 You should stay in your Loch 😂

[@jmolofsson]

Somehow, these very few managed to achieve an 80-seats majority in the House of Commons.

[@blechtic]

It helps when the media is complicit.

[@SonOfViking]

Not only would the EU have to design a "bespoke" treaty allowing the UK as a third country to become participants within the Single Market, it would also have to dismantle and fundamentally rewrite all of its own foundational and constitutional treaties in order to accommodate this, as well as dismantle and rewrite its treaties with EFTA in which the present twin-pillars of jurisdiction governing participants' behaviour within the EU/EEA is defined. In other words it would have to cease to exist just to "let the UK in". Think about that for a moment or two, Phil, and then maybe produce a more accurate video highlighting why "let's just join the Single Market", no matter who within Britain says this, is simply evidence to everyone else that the ignorant, arrogant, delusional exceptionalism that got you all into the mess you're in hasn't gone anywhere - even among so-called "rejoiners".

[@ab-ym3bf]

You say this to a country that thinks an Sps deal can be "hammered out" at high tea between Starmer en UvdL, and implemented the next day. They don't even realize the steps they still need to take within the WA, the TCA or even WTO.

[@maartenaalsmeer]

Yes, but those tedious rules and treaties are in place for *other* countries, and not for the UK, obviously. UK = special. Different rules apply. Big rich country, former world-ruler. Dûh!

[@RealMash]

@@maartenaalsmeer The "former" needs to be stressed here.

[@BewareOfTheKraut]

👏 👏 👏

[@aukebij3193]

The EU has not discussed negotiating new deals at all. They simply said that you must honor your agreements, otherwise there is a chance that the entire trade agreement will be canceled due to failure to honor agreements on the English side. and the reason they are starting to do this now is that several countries have insisted on this because they are done with it and they want to have everything ready by the end of next year. partly because the final phase of Brexit will be completed next year. the story of otherwise there will be no negotiations, that is what England has made of it. the eu simply said otherwise we will not continue in this way and has not said a word about new negotiations.

[@henna6126]

the EU Commission also warned the new UK government if do no implement their end of the agreement the RCA and WA agreement that includes the NIP( Windsor Frame work) the EU will have no choice but to take the UK to court and this Requirements under WTO if the EU takes the UK to court and during that time of the court process the EU could or cancel the TCA all together until the court process is solved and the UK will be at the loosing in this scenario because it will find itself in A trade war with the EU as there is no Re Negotiations but Technical Review for the uk Implementation and Honoring their end of the agreement that is due in 2026 that is all.from A very proud citizen of EU 27.

[@urseliusurgel4365]

The UK, not 'England'.

[@jmolofsson]

​@@urseliusurgel4365on the other side of the Channel, we are well aware of the leading role of the English in their United Kingdom - and quite relieved they no longer try to lead Europe.

[@gyderian9435]

English are the ones who make the rules in Britain, just think of Brexit

[@aukebij3193]

@@jmolofsson the english lead europe?? they can't lead their own country let alone europe it's an island full of clowns

[@bothi00]

De Gaulle was right. And Boris Johnson was wrong, Who'd have thought

[@ADifferentBias]

All of this aggro has been caused by the UK not being in the single market (or common market as it was then). So in what sense was De Gaulle right?

[@bothi00]

@@ADifferentBias he was right to keep Britain out of the EU. Shouldn't EU be more "aggro" if anything given the last 14 years of juvenile aggression from Britain towards Europe?

[@ab-ym3bf]

​@@ADifferentBiasde Gaulle was right in that the UK doesn't have the mentality to be part of a union of equals, especially one that goes beyond economics.

[@roisinmalone3015]

​@@ADifferentBias English exceptionalism.

[@saba1030]

​​​@@ADifferentBias Leaving the EU automaticly includes leaving the EUs SM/EEA and CU, according to article 126 of the EEA Agreement = SPECIFIES that membership is open to member states either of the EU and or EFTA member states ONLY. EEA = EUs SM NOT negotiatable !! Norway and Iceland/EFTA, are stating since years, that they'll veto the UK joining EFTA, because they don't want a "trouble maker in their club". Only option available for the UK is applying for full EU membership by fulfilling the Copenhagen Criteria FIRST. The UK doesn't even fulfill the needed criteria for APPLYING for EU membership at the moment. This so called "soft Brexit = keeping all the membership perks, while not being EU member anymore, but everything would change for the Continental EUropeans only, not though for the Brits" = was the fairy tale dream of the Brexiteers only..😂 Edit typo/autocorrect

[@Bramfly]

The UK needs to remember that the EU is not only an economical project, it very much is a, as important, political project , something the UK never was enthusiastic about and still isn’t.

[@emm_arr]

The non-gammons are deeply OK with that. Make no mistake, Brexit is very much a generational thing, and opinions differ markedly depending on age.

[@PaulaXism]

What England wanted was a new empire to bully and push around. Didn't get it so did nothing but whine and moan and block.

[@oliverxhmll]

yeah ur politics now = housing illegals in hotels and paying for them because u didn't want hardworking EU immigrants

[@w47w]

Farage has said that he will sort it all out, so send him to the EU Commission. This could be the biggest laugh in a long time if he is allowed to run against the wall. It will be perfect for the EU if BREXIT chaos continues in the UK. The best example for all EU countries of what happens when you leave the EU. Above all, EU citizens have been watching the reality show Live for years to see what they will lose. Since BREXIT they are proud to be an EU citizen in the EU according to many polls. They are also happy that the UK is out of the EU and will remain so.

[@therealjetlag]

Dear god, why would we send that work shy traitor back to the EU? He’s an embarrassment. He wouldn’t run against the wall, he’d just lie his arse off like he always does.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

There is no point for the EU: all it does is appear to "solve" problems caused by too much governmental interference, in the member-states, in the first place.

[@plumduff3303]

I want my European passport back stolen by Johnson

[@roderickmain9697]

Its a shame that the media dont take your view, Phil, and tell the people that read their papers. Its sort of contributory negligence on their part.

[@hypsyzygy506]

It's not negligence. It's deliberate, coming from the owners and managers.

[@michaellawrence7570]

The brexit nightmare rolls on and on and and will never end

[@AllanWilliama]

It funny is it 😅😅😅😅

[@martinhommel9967]

Brexit the gift that keeps on taking

[@AllanWilliama]

@martinhommel9967 I just find it funny and I love seeing remaining getting upset It funny 😁

[@DavidMoxham957]

@@AllanWilliama Why does your name end with an a? Are you a banned troll from Russia and needed a way to post Kremlin misinformation?

[@simonoleary9264]

​@@DavidMoxham957 Based on sentence structure, I think it's a Yoda bot. Hmm, dodgy it is!

[@abbofun9022]

Whatever did the UK think? That they’re special and deserve exceptions? Mwahahahahahahaha.

[@Gnarfendorf]

Thats what they always thought and wanted, now they got shown the middlefinger and dont know how to deal with it exept moan and cry.

[@503leafy]

They did have that special accommodation when they were in the EU. When they left however...

[@izzytrue8630]

Sorry, we can't join the single market. It seems we've learnt nothing since we left. British exceptionalism still prevails ... it's really depressing. De Gaulle was right when he said the UK should not join the common market. We first applied to join, 63 years ago. In 1961 we were vetoed, again in 1967 we were vetoed and finally accepted in 1969! But nothing has changed ... we still believe it's all about economics ... IT IS NOT! When I dare to discuss the possibility of the UK re-joining the EU, my Continental friends smile, some laugh some get angry ... but the answer is always NO ... never. The English are too much trouble!!! I imagen 27 countries in Europe are feeling pretty much the same. So stop dreaming, the best we can hope for is closer alignment and mutual respect ... while we watch on the sidelines!

[@octavianpopescu4776]

I'm sorry, but I know what you're saying. Out of all commentators on this political subject called Brexit, Jon Danzig is the only one I've seen who really understands and embraces the whole European integration project.

[@SnorriTheLlama]

@@octavianpopescu4776The problem with the UK is poor education about Britain and the environment we live in and how it works. We’d have been better off not learning certain subjects to focus on really basic stuff like taxes, real world economics, geopolitics, history, international relations etc. If you don’t have awareness of issues, you will inevitably vote in ways that adversely affect you due to ignorance. This is also the fault of politicians that fail to sufficiently inform the public on issues and decisions that need to be made.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

@@SnorriTheLlama And yet 16 million people voted the other way. I don't really think politicians are the people one should expect to inform the population. Individual study, like reading books? Yes. Schools? Yes. The media? Probably. But politicians? They have a vested interest, so I wouldn't trust them to do it.

[@petelucas51]

If what you say is true we must make going it alone as big a success as possible....Im not holding my breath

[@andrewkenny4633]

​@@petelucas51Well that is what the people who pushed Brexit told the voting public how great things were going to be when the UK left the EU how you were this world leading trading Nation and would show the EUSSR how much they needed us more than we need them. What has happened now you are free of the unelected bureaucracy of the EU. I see the Australians are delighted with the trade deal they got with you even laughing at you about how great it is for them. Selling cheese to the Japanese a lactose intolerant people well done Britain you are showing the EU how to do trade deals where is the trade deal with the USA wonder what happened to it.

[@johnjeanb]

Fully agree with you Phil. Especially with the first EU observation: start to fully enforce the agreement you signed (FTA) before considering any negociation. Regarding the SM and the CU, there is NO WAY to have access to these unless a country is part of the EU or the EFTA. The EU WILL NOT spend months/years discussing with the UK with "à la carte" agreements. So all Keir Starmer can expect are very small improvements (NO radical change). Remember also that the EU has learned a lesson doing incremental agreements with Switzerland. It will NEVER do this again and will do ALL POSSIBLE to convert the existing Swiss agreements into an all encompassing agreement (Norway style). Why do so many Britons feign to ignore the rules the EU set for itself. I still wonder what is K.Starmer roadmap regarding the EU. He is wasting precious time.

[@RankinMsP]

Can't imagine why the EU are demanding the performance of obligations? Its not like the UK have reneged on other agreements before. Oh wait..😐

[@Ooze-cl5tx]

You should be more aware that during the brexit negotiations the EU treated the UK as a member. On their way out but still a member. Now they are out, no longer a member. The diplomatic language is still "nice" but be clear, initiating a court procedure to make the UK honour their signature is the diplomatic equivalency of "more than rude and quite feed up". And doing it now is a clear sign that a labour government wont be given a special treaty for "not being Tory"

[@paulnewman2000]

In 2016, I thought Brexit was a really very stupid idea. I now realise I didn't know the half of it, and its much worse than I previously thought.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

What does the EU do, that actual free trade cannot do?

[@paulnewman2000]

@@lochnessmunster1189 Cooperation for mutual benefit.

[@paulnewman2000]

get a seasonal workforce to harvest crops on English farms.

[@paulnewman2000]

Get perishable goods across national borders without a delay that destroys their value.

[@paulnewman2000]

Give the UK tariff free access to a market of nearly 450 million people

[@martincarty3067]

Remember they need us more than we need them. Something that I was told ad infinitum when ever I pointed out who will hold the whip hand in negotiations.

[@matt_acton-varian]

Hearing that made me laugh to. A united bloc of nations nearly 20x our size really needs one tiny damp island wearing tin hats and throwing tantrums? Sure it does (!). I do not blame Brussels for standing their ground.

[@henna6126]

@@matt_acton-varian And Brussels as the EU Commission(EU Civil Servants) works for the EU 27 and legally elected by all EU 27 member Countries MEP in the EU parliament so they have clear mandate to work and protect on behalf the EU SM&CU and other EU Institutions for the wellbeing of our Businesses and Industrial and Health of its Citizens and Safety for all EU 27 and its Citizens the UK made themselves A Competitive to the EU when they voted for Breix in 2016 and become like any other 3rd countries( none EU) around the world and they have to live because the EU will treat the UK like any 3rd country no more or no less and will not give the UK free pass otherwise what the point of being A union of 27 if any random 3rd country can have privilege of the EU SM&CU as the same as the EU 27 country who are member of club in the European union either you are in or out there is no in Between period .greetings from A very proud Citizen of EU 27.

[@matt_acton-varian]

@@henna6126 There are a number of Non-EU states who have bipartisan deals with the EU including market and customs union access. These include Norway and Switzerland. Had that always been the plan from the announcement of the referendum, the situation we would have found ourselves in would be quite different. I am not a believer in the current mould of the EU but was always in the Remain camp because there was no plan of action, there was no set agreement as to what the UK-EU relations would look like. I would rather have seen the UK remain and help reform the EU than throw a tantrum and leave thinking we would get anything we wanted. A lot of non-British people don't know all the details of the exit referendum, and it is a huge mess that was mostly caused by a few groups of individuals.

[@MrsGardiner]

It takes just a few French fishing boats to stop all the ferries that deliver crucially needed food to Britain. This is how much 'they need us more than we need them'. That Britons could ever believe this claptrap beggars belief.

[@pisquared1827]

It means that if the UK cannot comply with agreements they signed, no future agreement UK signs will be worth the paper it is written on.

[@diarmuidkuhle8181]

If I knew this shit was ever going to be seriously on the table, never mind the outcome, I would NEVER have moved here. Wasted two decades of my life trying to make a home where I am clearly not wanted.

[@jmolofsson]

Unfortunately, you are not alone. 🥺

[@Bramfly]

No cherry picking, even under Labour!

[@TheCloudhopper]

The UK and the EU have an international agreement, binding under international law. The EU is upholding its obligations under this agreement since January 31st 2020. The UK is not. There is no reason to discuss any "further" cooperation as long as the UK is not even cooperatin with the binding minimum standards they have agreed to. Imagine the screeching of the UK politicans and press if it was the other way around? No, the UK has to demonstrate that they are willing and capable of upholding existing agreements in good faith before new ones can be considered.

[@blechtic]

And practically speaking, who would want to relax border or trade formalities with a country that can not control their own borders? There's no saying what would be smuggled in through their leaking borders.

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

We told you Brittains: no cherry picking. No having your cake and eat it. No benefits of club membership. You lot are out. You signed the agreements. Live up to them.

[@emm_arr]

"You signed the agreements." Brexiters did - and they need to have some punishment. How's your Russian? Fluent yet?

[@saba1030]

​@@emm_arr🙄 How would that feel to you, whenever there are elections at the EU27 = ALL treaties the EU has with the UK = get changed 😂 The UK has the TCA with the EU27...Just implement it properly after 4,5 years...the EU27 have been very patient with tve UK until these days, but it started an infringement procedure against the UK recently...

[@ab-ym3bf]

​@@emm_arrthe chosen government of the uk signed the agreements, irrelevant of what signature they were. They are binding.

[@torre6721]

@@emm_arr Oh - Russians voted the Brexiteers in? Didn't know that.

[@emm_arr]

@@torre6721 "Oh - Russians voted the Brexiteers in? Didn't know that." Great shitpost. Wunderfle.

[@timyolanda166]

Well, brexit means brexit. Since 2020 the UK enjoys 3rd country status, same as any other country in ROW wanting to relate and trade with EU. Sure, 3rd countries have FTAs with the EU. To be beneficial, these agreements, logically have got to be based on mutual trust, respect and compliance. The UK has since 2016 on this "Brexit matter" proven itself to be UNTRUSTWORTHY to the MARROW. The basic traits mentioned here above, are manifestly absent from the DNA of the UK. So much so, that any potential party considering entering in to any kind of relationship with the UK , should be (will surely be), more than wary. All the EU leaders are now again saying clearly to the UK, is that, based on FACTS, the EU citizens perceive the UK to be an untrustworthy bully boy like country. The EU leaders, not only see close up, that sinister trait in the UK , but the EU leaders do not have a mandate from the EU people to even dream of allowing the UK to form a part of the EU trade block. Certainly not before and not until such time as the UK begins to respect us, and comply with international agreements. It is unlikely, (IMHO), but should the UK show signs of honesty, by implementing in full, the TCA it has signed with the EU, then that and only that might change the current perception that the citizens of the EU have got of the UK. Meantime, brexit means brexit. When trading with the EU block, UK enjoys 3rd country status same as USA or JAPAN or ROW. A huge difference being is that the UK is UNTRUSTWORTHY to the MARROW...it "signs up and tears up" agreements, and that is the DNA trait, regardless of who occupies #10 Downing St.

[@kopkaljdsao]

Brexiteer plan was obviously to become a tax shelter. Russian, Chinese and Middle Eastern money enters London. Now an "independent" market. Money owners becomes anonymous. Then you use Gibraltar and Ireland to smuggle money into the EU. With some variation to take money out or launder it. EU keeping an eye on London banks and global Russian sanctions put the plan on freeze.

[@veryincognito6776]

UK's proud way from a rulemaker to a ruletaker ...

[@lochnessmunster1189]

Which is the very point of leaving the EU. Why should a market have rules made by a tiny minority who know nothing about the majority?

[@MrsGardiner]

@@lochnessmunster1189 You have got to be a troll, nobody can be this dim on how EU rules are made and by whom.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@MrsGardiner It is a perfectly valid question; please answer it.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

If they don't like it, they're free to walk away. But respecting what they signed with their own hand is a reasonable demand to make.

[@emm_arr]

Is it? Even if negotiated in bad faith?

[@abbofun9022]

@@emm_arrnot by the EU, it’s the UK that made promises it didn’t intend to keep. Imagine the level of sympathy within the EU for UK’s pain.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

@@emm_arr Bad faith, good faith, these are subjective interpretations. What is objective and tangible is what's on paper and what is on paper is the signature of the Prime Minister of the UK at the time, Boris Johnson. Through the UK's internal political process, Johnson spoke for the entire country. Whether that process is fair or not, that's the UK's internal business. They organize their country internally however they see fit. As far as we're concerned, he had the legal right to sign that treaty and he signed it and the UK Parliament ratified it. So, I think it's reasonable to expect it to be implemented as all the legal procedures were concluded.

[@emm_arr]

@@octavianpopescu4776 "Bad faith, good faith, these are subjective interpretations." No. They have legal meaning and are very different.

[@emm_arr]

@@octavianpopescu4776 "Through the UK's internal political process, Johnson spoke for the entire country. Whether that process is fair or not, that's the UK's internal business." Missing the point by a country mile. The point is that these negotiations were done in bad faith - but you would need to understand what that means to understand the point I made!

[@qeitkas594]

Thanks for giving a realistic picture here. There is too much fantasies going around about rejoining. The harsh truth is that the EU is relocating services back to the EU from the city. This all goes very silently but it is happening. The EU wants this business back on the mainland and they will not stop it for some "potential" rejoining talks. In other words there is more Brexit pain to come. Look at this link for Brexit cost in numbers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKSbmGaBm7GUgqs

[@brianferguson7840]

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE ! You can't rejoin the European Union ! It's not your choice and never will be. When britain joined the original Common Market, there were a handful of members, and it still took eleven years to convince them to agree to have you. Now there are twenty seven member states, and you have proven beyond any possible doubt how untrustworthy and mendacious you are and that you have absolutely no concept of the true European ideal. You voted to leave, you left ! And we don't want you back ! Why would we ????

[@MIEJ4]

@@brianferguson7840it is an advantage to the EU to have the UK as a member. Fact. So at some point it will happen.

[@nigelsynnott7344]

@@MIEJ4 The EU seem in no rush to have us back. Fact!!! To them we were a mixed bag, but in the end we were too troublesome and a half hearted member. What is this advantage you claim as a fact? If we were ever to join, it would be as a new member with none of the cherry picked exceptions we had. It would be the EU's choice to admit us or not, as we go back asking to enter. As shown in the TCA and WA, the EU was and is the more powerful party.

[@u2bear211]

@@MIEJ4 > [...] advantage to the EU to have the UK as a member. Not as long the UK is trying to join again only because they need money, and possibly jumping off the boat again after a few years. The Union is not a pawn shop.

[@sockjuice8795]

​@@MIEJ4 sure it is!!!! In a pigs eye, dear

[@maxharbig1167]

It's all in the TCA . The TCA is up for review/audit, not renegotiation, in May 2026. The results of that review will determine the EU's future relationship with the UK. There is one thing both Brexiteers and "rejoiners" (whatever the hell that means) have to remember, which is that the EU is bound by WTO rules as to how it treats a third country. If a third country does not abide by the specifics of their agreement with the EU then the deal is over. THh EU has to be careful because if it does not sanction non-compliance other WTO third countries will be able to demand that it gives them the same priviliges that it would appear to be giving to the UK. There is a whole world out there nowadays with rules, rights and demands that the "great trading nation" of the UK seems to forget exists. Possibly , that's because its position as a great trading nation was basically built on gunboat diplomacy that doesnt' really work for it work anymore.

[@JohnRussell-y3m]

No…it reviews how well the agreed procedures are achieving the agreed objectives,, The EU will not be changing the agreed objectives.

[@maxharbig1167]

@@JohnRussell-y3m" No" to what.? The EU texts regarding the review that I look at say that in May 2026 there will be a review of the implementation status of the TCA and of the fulfillment by the parties of their ubligations under it it. What "objectives" are you specifically referring to.? The only objectives involved are the level of implementation and the parties' fulfillment of theier obligations. The EU has fulfilled its obligations from day one. Has, or will, the UK have fulfilled its obligations,particularly regarding import contrils? mIf the UK does not the EU will be obliuged to react in some way . Remember the WTO "most favoured nation" rule.

[@sabinenadal8470]

@@JohnRussell-y3m "No" to what ? @maxharbig1167 is right

[@ulfosterberg9116]

​@@JohnRussell-y3m what uk forget is that the same WTO rules apply to them.... every country in the world can, and will, sue uk over not implementing borderchecks and they will want compensation....

[@maxharbig1167]

@@ulfosterberg9116 "most favored nation" rule. You can only give something more to a country if you have a specific agreement with them. If a party does not honour that agreement and the other party continues to give them the privileges of that agreement any other WTO third country can claim those same privileges.

[@TheoWerewolf]

Yup. We Remainers kept trying to explain this to Brexiters over and over and why leaving was mostly a one way decision - so it's kind of frustrating to now have to explain it to the Rejoiners who ALSO don't get that we can't just hold a referendum and bang, back in. We don't get to decide this.

[@TrimeshSZ]

Except there is no "tough line" - saying "before we discuss anything else you need to at least make good-faith efforts to implement the stuff you have already agreed to" is a completely reasonable position.

[@ab-ym3bf]

"good faith efforts"? No, factual implementation.

[@jimthorne304]

There seem to be a lot of people who apparently believe that joining the EU, or the Single Market, or the Customs Union, is on a par with joining the darts club in a local pub. It's not, the process can take up to 10 years after EU acceptance of a country as a 'candidate'.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

This is because the EU is unneccessarily complex.

[@astree214]

The most important word is "... the process can take up to 10 years AFTER ..."

[@tesserakt54]

They don't trust us.

[@geraldwagner8739]

That‘s no surprise!

[@charlotteinfj4412]

Yep, 100%.

[@ulfosterberg9116]

And EU do not think uk is that important.

[@Bramfly]

And why would that be?

[@RealMash]

@@Bramfly Because one can burn bridges, but peeing on the ashes is frowned upon.

[@mnky75]

Try out your Brexit first, then call us when you're ready.....

[@AlMinton-sj1cj]

The EU sees UK as untrustworthy

[@hypsyzygy506]

Perfidious Albion.

[@flitsertheo]

You can extend that to "the rest of the world". For centuries.

[@RealMash]

...untrustworthy...it is not an opinion, it is proven beyond a doubt as fact ;-)

[@didierlemoine6771]

not UK, GB :)

[@carlossaraiva8213]

The tories are shocked they have to follow the laws and agreements. Unthinkable! This such a novel concept for them.

[@astree214]

... to follow the laws and agreements they have writen and signed themselves ! How dare EU ask them that !!!

[@LeonTrotsky6782]

Pretty obvious at age 70, I will never in my life, see us rejoin the EU. Sad.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

Don't give up - if you live to 95 there is a chance you'll see us rejoin.

[@Mercs_Beamers]

I’m 41 and I’m doubting if we rejoin in my lifetime tbh. The conservatives/right wing media and farage have salted the earth then nuked it when it comes to rejoining. Don’t ever forgive or forget.

[@andrewkenny4633]

​@tancreddehauteville764 I don't think there is a hope in he'll of the UK ( British) rejoining the EU there are other countries looking to join But it will take them a long time to gain membership

[@tancreddehauteville764]

@@andrewkenny4633 If there is the goodwill then there is hope. The problem is that the goodwill isn't there.

[@sweetwilliam4199]

@@LeonTrotsky6782 +1.

[@bradlevantis913]

The arrogance of these people is astounding. I have relatives in Europe and there seems to be very little appetite for dealing with the UK now. To paraphrase, they (the UK) had their chance with sweetheart terms and that still wasn’t good enough

[@harrybarrow6222]

Unfortunately, England has about 80% of the UK population. I am British, born in Scotland, but I absolutely want to be part of the EU. We do 50% of our world trade with the EU. Putting delays, paperwork, and extra expense on that trade showed monumental ignorance and stupidity. “Sovereignty” was a complete red herring; every member of the EU has sovereignty.

[@helena19741]

I lived in Glasgow at the time of the vote and everyone I knew voted to remain in the Union. The day after the vote you could feel the pain, the Scotts felt robbed because the majority of them voted to remain. It was a very surreal time with huge consequences for some of my friends. The British Tabloid (press) played a huge part in getting the Tories their beloved dream and in turning the Nation into this never-ending night mare...

[@Wiscotac]

Great post! Should be required viewing for every UK citizen to make them aware of what they signed up for, by their own hands.

[@powerjets3512]

All those dead English hands.

[@Wiscotac]

@@powerjets3512 Now now, as is said over here in the colonies, "anything can happen in an election year". Also, after the election taxes increase, for sure, almost everywhere. My saying is more like, "In an election year noise increases and facts disappear." But thats just me. Honestly I don't get the import meaning of the 'dead hands' reference. Covid, Brexit, .gov, possibly the electorate? 🤷‍♂

[@powerjets3512]

@Wiscotac It's great that we have the Olympics on now. Almost like the halcyon days in 2012 when you realise that you own the world and all those Union flags in other nations flags that love you too. I'm not sure what the blue bit is for in the Union flag.

[@Wiscotac]

@@powerjets3512 I have to admit that the US's electorate has blindsided itself into a kind of overpowered ego trip, like the tude of most past empires that are now dead in the fullness of time.

[@russiandrivers9986]

Britain took a shit on the negotiation table. Now it's time to eat up

[@lochnessmunster1189]

The EU does nothing that actual free trade cannot do better.

[@dooley-ch]

Here we go again.... The EU treaties state the ratification of changes must be done according to national law, in practice this translates into 38 regional and national parliaments, plus the EU parliament and the peoples of Denmark, France and Ireland. The change of all of them agreeing to change the treaties to allow the UK to cherry pick and join the single market without membership is zero. And if the peoples of Denmark, France or Ireland said no, that would place a big restriction on what could be done as it opens the way for citizens to go to the ECJ to enforce the decision. Labour are saying no to the single market because they know it will never be an option.

[@DouglasBrightman-yb8ry]

Too right I have absolutely no trust in UK politics or politicians This country is broken

[@lochnessmunster1189]

But you trust EU politicians??

[@DouglasBrightman-yb8ry]

@@lochnessmunster1189 More than ours Lying is rife in our parliament

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@DouglasBrightman-yb8ry They're all the same. There's no reason to trust EU politicians, especially when you consider they're unneccessary.

[@mreese8764]

The UK has been a major pain in the ass since forever. What's really the benefit for the EU to get them back?

[@emm_arr]

Thwarting Putin's aggression against the EU and not havinbg a problem state on your doorstep: the usual gig for Europe after it decided war is bad.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

The UK was a pain in the ass from 1939-45?

[@uweinhamburg]

Come on... you really expect a Brit to honor contracts?

[@lochnessmunster1189]

I'm a Brit, and I honor contracts. So your statement is nonsense.

[@uweinhamburg]

@@lochnessmunster1189 What do you do, to make your government honor contracts they have signed in your name??

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@uweinhamburg How does that relate to the character of every single Brit???

[@uweinhamburg]

@@lochnessmunster1189 In the end, it is still a representative democracy?

[@lochnessmunster1189]

@@uweinhamburg No, because no democracy actually is. Hardly ever is anyone elected by the majority.

[@davdonoghue]

The people who did this to our country are walking free and giving their "Opinions" on other issues

[@lochnessmunster1189]

they shouldn't be walking free?

[@verttikoo2052]

🤦🏻‍♂️ UK is not fully out of the Single Market and when July 2025 comes then the door closes completely.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

There is no need whatsoever for a 'single market'.

[@michaelkaercher]

Labour has to show that the UK is from here on a partner, the EU can trust. Therefore, the signed deals have to be implemented. So far, trust in the UK has massively suffered.

[@Arltratlo]

it must hurt the Brits, that the EU is holding all the cards! while the Brits playing Halma!

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

No - the country was given the opportunity to vote and we were pretty much lied to - so if the data exists that can show we got it wrong!!! bring it on and then we can vote again - simples. The EU can always say NO to us that is their perogative.

[@californiadreamin8423]

@@pamvarnsverry2444. The U.K. is too volatile at the moment. We have to deal with Farage and the crazies in the Tory party.

[@trident6547]

@@pamvarnsverry2444 Voting does not open any doors into EU. complying with the criteria for joining and applying takes you one step on the road. Of course 27 membercountries need to unanimously say yes.

[@octavianpopescu4776]

It's not a matter of who has one over the other, as much as it's a matter of trust. If you sign a deal, you should make it happen, otherwise why are we doing this? Why waste time and money in long negotiations? Just to have useless pieces of paper that aren't implemented at all?

[@ab-ym3bf]

​@@pamvarnsverry2444I seem to be having a deja vue moment reading this post. You can vote whatever and how often you want, it will not change the situation with the EU because you vote for it. You should be aware of that by now. And no, it is not just a question of asking and be nice, that is BHM style of naive idiocy.

[@MattTheSpratt]

This is going to be a lot more challenging than I thought....

[@cyberslim7955]

If the English insist on hating somebody/something, can't they find something other than the EU?

[@ab-ym3bf]

Sure they can. And they do. It could be them Germans, the French, the lazy Club med coubrries, Megan Markke, the weather or even a combination of them on the same day.

[@cyberslim7955]

@@ab-ym3bf Old news, anything better more powerful, like the US, GOD, ETC?

[@pumkineater7219]

As a British resident in Europe, I cannot understand why the Brexiteers are fighting what was already agreed by Johnson. Europe has the right to ask for implementation of the agreement. That is the law agreed between the UK and The European Union!

[@bryn494]

How dare they not just readmit the UK? Who do they think they are? :(

[@RealMash]

Maybe the ones that can say "non!"?

[@lochnessmunster1189]

The UK are people who realise that the EU does nothing that free trade can't do.

[@trident6547]

@@lochnessmunster1189 you truly have no clue what you are talking about. When UK left EU there were 759 different agreements signed by the EU commission, on behalf of the member states, with 168 countries. 295 concerned trade, 69 fisheries, 65 transport, 49 customs and 45 nuclear issues. UK lost all of these when it left EU. From GOV.UK: As an independent trading nation, the UK now has over 70 trade agreements in place. When you look closer at those agreements only three have been done by UK! The rest are roll-overs from EU agreements and they need to be renegotiated in a near future. It seems it will take UK quite a long time to get back to where it was in 2020. Oh btw EU is about to finalize a trade agreement with Mercosur. That will open up a market with 295 million customers for our exporters in EU. The EU has concluded a trade agreement with the four founding members of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) as part of a bi-regional Association Agreement. Current trade relations between the EU and Mercosur are based on an inter-regional Framework Cooperation Agreement which entered into force from 1999. The EU and individual Mercosur countries also have bilateral framework cooperation agreements, which also deal with trade-related matters. The EU is Mercosur's second-biggest trade in goods partner, after China and ahead of the United States. The EU accounts for 16.9% of Mercosur's total trade in 2023. Mercosur is the EU's tenth-largest trade in goods partner. What was it you were saying about trade and EU....?

[@epincion]

Well I’m from NI and all of us here know full well that the Numero Uno litmus test is for the UK government to implement the NIP and the WF [the WF is not a new agreement but a plan of implementation of the NIP] and we also know full well how the Tories signed the NIP but had zero intention of ever honouring it - both Lord Frost and PM Johnson openly boasted of this. So Labour has to implement the NIP and it knows that the DUP will crash the NI Assembly when Labour does start.

[@emm_arr]

And that alone is reason to charge Frost and Johnson with misconduct in public office.

[@Leberteich]

Maybe the DUP crashing NI assembly is not such a horrid spectre? Call a new election, see Unionist parties lose more ground to SF and Alliance, but still blocking a new NI government. Then call that border poll that the GFA provides for as a clear either - or: Irish unification, or installing a forever hard border across Ireland, IF that's what the people of NI vote for. Cross fingers NI is smart enough to vote against that border. Retreat from NI and go down in history as the PM who democratically solved the century- old Irish question. Or, if needs must, cancel GFA and have a hard trade border in Ireland. Let NI wither on the vine because that is what they voted for. Remind them at every opportunity. End of.

[@ab-ym3bf]

​@@emm_arrwhich would not change a single thing in the prevailing issues.

[@bernardpearce3478]

​@@LeberteichThe people of NI voted overwhelmingly Remain to prevent a hard border.

[@Fossil_Frank]

@@Leberteich If solving the NI issue democratically was that easy, it would have been done long ago. Even if you get a majority to vote one way this will simply restart the violence from the other side. It's the whole reason for the special arrangement until an overwhelming majority for one choice or the other arises.

[@pvught390]

Four years after Brexit, the British are still waiting for the benefits of Brexit.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

The benefits are not having to pay the salaries and pensions of politicians who actually hinder free trade. If only all the other EU countries would leave, too.

[@MrsGardiner]

@@lochnessmunster1189 The brexiter wet dream. Hasn't happened yet. EU countries know which side their bread is buttered on.

[@lloydbelle3406]

I agree that it is vital that the UK should use this opportunity to build a stronger trust bonding relationship with the EU. However what is equally vital is eradicating the toxic anti-EU rhetoric that exists amongst the UK public. That program needs to start now, not in 15-20 yerars time.

[@mandriod5255]

It’s not unreasonable for one party of an agreement to want to see the other side to do what they already agreed, doesn’t a parent teach a child this way?

[@flitsertheo]

The UK still doesn't understand it's the child (or rather toddler) here.

[@emm_arr]

@@flitsertheo Misrepresentation.

[@ulfosterberg9116]

​@@emm_arr miseducation. They still belive that the EMPIRE is there somewhere.

[@derekmulready1523]

The TCA must be fully adopted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In 2026 it will be adjusted if necessary. But not necessarily in the British Government's favour. 🇮🇪🇪🇺

[@1258-Eckhart]

Yes, there's a review clause, which will be hugely embarrassing for the UK government if it hasn't implemented full TCA + Windsor and still fails to control imports correctly.

[@srp01983]

It’s very heart-warming to watch Brexiteers getting their panties in a bunch over Labour moving closer to the EU. It was always going to happen of course, for simple economic reasons, but the fact that they will never understand this is hilarious.

[@lochnessmunster1189]

The EU is a pointless layer of government which seems to "fix" problems caused by too much government in the member-states, in the first place.

[@Bran9]

Why on earth would the EU give you anything when you haven't implement what's all ready agreed,as for a bespoke deal to enter the SM not happening

[@emm_arr]

Because Brexit was Ruzzian aggression and a clique subverting a valued Member State.

[@bigernie9433]

well analyzed ! Unfortunately, rarely found in England nowadays

[@lochnessmunster1189]

I analyzed the EU well here in England, and found it to be a pointless organisation.

[@flybywire5866]

One side not caring about an agreement makes any further agreement a waste of time. Russia is an actual prime example for it.

[@JohnRussell-y3m]

Stick to the wording of what you agreed, and do not go lookin for a different interpretation of the wording. Starmer is a lawyer. He spent his career looking for loopholes in the wording of law . The EU won’t stand for it.

[@ulfosterberg9116]

That's the difference between angloamerican law and european law. The horse trade business.

[@davidcolin6519]

The EU will stand it, if that is what they signed. In fact, I suspect that the EU would probably applaud him if he did find a loophole, because they have literally hundreds of expert lawyers who worked on this agreement. The UK had a bunch of unselfcritical Tories, and apparently "Lord" David Frost was supposed to have been somehow the best one. Under the circs. I doubt that there are any loopholes that Starmer will be able to find. He may be one of the best, but that sort of ask is going a bit far.

[@hypsyzygy506]

It's not Starmer's field of expertise, and he's got more important stuff to deal with.

[@davidcolin6519]

@@ulfosterberg9116 No, it's not. It's the difference between US law and International law. Anglo-Saxon law is perfectly capable of holding the rich and powerful to account. This has been seen multiple times in my life. It may be difficult, but it is possible. Under US law, the rich and powerful are, to all intents and purposes, entirely immune. It takes a "Rich" person as truly dumb as DJT to even end up in court!

[@matt_acton-varian]

​@@davidcolin6519 Starmer was a human rights lawyer not European Law. I do not believe he was a Brexit supporter but he has always claimed there is no going back. But let's not forget that the final exit deal was not a cross-party agreement and no other political party had any input on the deal and because of a Parliamentary majority, the Tories would not have needed any Labour or Lib Dem MP votes to pass it in to law. Starmer is stuck between a rock and a hard place because he wants to repair the damage and restore the national reputation. An impossible task regardless of what you think of him.

[@emm_arr]

It'll be hugely convenient for the Conservative Party in a few years to see Johnson on charges over Brexit.

[@peterparker219]

Surprise, surprise - breaking agreements even in a specific and limited way has consequences.

[@billpugh58]

The Brexit brigade got exactly what they wanted. Can they now finally stop whining?

[@rnanerd6505]

All makes sense - except I'm not really clear about what labour wants to achieve? Yes better relations but adopting clear brexiter 'nyets' such as the baffling refusal to countenance the youth mobility scheme. I would characterise the labour aproach as 'friendly cherry picking'.

[@ab-ym3bf]

Friendly? No, sneaky. At least the cons were open and honest about it.

[@astree214]

anyway, no way to get it in any case. Labour going that way will loose.

[@rnanerd6505]

@astree214 well Labour has just won and is in power for 5 years. The hope is that they can reverse some of the damage of brexit, but how? Is the question

[@brucetownsend691]

The UK needs to get its own house in order first. If you want to rejoin the EU one day, become the country the rest of Europe will want as a member. Then it will be easy and the path will appear. At present, there is no path.

[@ab-ym3bf]

Becoming a member is never easy, and their is a clear path, laid out in art 49

[@brucetownsend691]

@@ab-ym3bf A legal path is not what I am talking about. I am referring to a political path. Britain is just too divided. For the foreseeable future, that is not going to change and the EU will continue to regard possible rejoining so difficult it’s a waste of their time and energy.

[@yogikarl]

Maybe Charles de Gaulle was right by not liking that British smell

[@saeedhossain6099]

while he might have been right, he was also leading a France too broke to do anything about that. so he had to take the terms on offer, not unlike now for the British.

[@charlotteinfj4412]

@@saeedhossain6099 Not true, he vetoed the british twice. Only after he was gone, they had a chance to join the union.

[@roelkomduur8073]

de Gaulle almost torpedoed the D-day landings if wasn't for Eisenhouwer...Says a lot about the man.

[@RealMash]

@@charlotteinfj4412 Aehm, the Irish asking to let in wth the British did not influence it?

[@charlotteinfj4412]

@@roelkomduur8073 Eisenhower tried to place a man handpicked by him at the head of the french state and thus end the french republic if it wasn't for De Gaulle. Educate yourself and respect the man, he did so much for our country.

[@pieterzuiddam]

I guess the UK want the free movement of goods but not the free movement of persons with an exception of the free movement of British musicians. Oh yes and they want to keep their old rebates. This cherry picking is not going to happen.

[@thedon8772]

Phil I think you are great, I've been following you for years now and you are spot on when it comes to Brexit, but I think it will take a minimum of 50 years before the EU even begins to consider allowing the UK back, that's a long time and who knows what the EU or the UK will be like, my point is a simple one, Brexit ruined the country on every level and there is no going back, I wish I was wrong.

[@peterebel7899]

UK's strategy: Leaving the EU to achieve closer relations to Europe ...

[@rebecca_noble]

No. Leaving the EU to get away from the stinking EU.

[@svenfricke2961]

No more extra sausages for the entitled islanders.

[@astree214]

and no more straight bananas or slaved fishes. Uk now has bended bananas and happy fishes 🤣🤣🤣

[@richardhealy]

The Tories really screwed this nation for a generation.

[@emm_arr]

"The Tories really screwed this nation for a generation." And themselves for about three. 1832 all over again.

[@charlesfaure1189]

The need, unfortunately, is to place restrictions on speech. Intentionally lying to the public for political purposes should be prosecuted as the act of treason it is. It is a dangerous step, but the status quo is already even more dangerous. To do nothing against propagandists like this will eventually and inevitably lead to catastrophe.

[@allenpayne6893]

This is how the EU always deals with 3rd countries as far as FTAs go, the UK signed off on the deal so conditions apply per the agreement!

[@ab-ym3bf]

This is how every country on the planet deals with agreements, except the UK for their part. Maybe it is time that Spain ignores the treaty of Utrecht and take back Gibraltar, see how (predictable) the UK reacts to that