The EU is playing 'hard ball' again !

[*concerned*]

Today, Michel Barnier was speaking in Dublin after talks with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and he repeated his assertion that in a no-deal outcome, the EU would not discuss anything further with the UK until the Irish border issue, citizens' rights and a financial settlement had been agreed.
"Throughout all of this, the EU27 will remain united as it has been since day one," said Mr Barnier.

[salus.populi]

Today, Michel Barnier was speaking in Dublin after talks with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and he repeated his assertion that in a no-deal outcome, the EU would not discuss anything further with the UK until the Irish border issue, citizens' rights and a financial settlement had been agreed.
"Throughout all of this, the EU27 will remain united as it has been since day one," said Mr Barnier.

Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

[Desert Region]

Today, Michel Barnier was speaking in Dublin after talks with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and he repeated his assertion that in a no-deal outcome, the EU would not discuss anything further with the UK until the Irish border issue, citizens' rights and a financial settlement had been agreed.
"Throughout all of this, the EU27 will remain united as it has been since day one," said Mr Barnier.

It's not surprising, is it?


Greece was never bailed out and remains in debtor’s prison – Bild Zeitung interview

https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/2018/08/22/20949/

[Toodles McGinty]

the EU would not discuss anything further with the UK until the Irish border issue, citizens' rights and a financial settlement had been agreed.
"Throughout all of this, the EU27 will remain united as it has been since day one," said Mr Barnier.

Well they are pretty major issues. We owe, what, £39b? If we don't pay up, we'll be seen as defaulters throughout the world, and it'll hardly encourage anyone to do business with us. The Irish border questions is also paramount, particularly for us. Don't fancy bombs being planted over here again. Or having our soldiers blown to bits because they've ended up back at the border.

Citizen's rights should be a major concern for everyone.

Not sure it is hard ball. The whole point of the EU is to stick together, isn't it? I've no doubt if France was in our position, we'd be calling them a-hole to breakfast time.

[Hamble]

Corbyn seems very happy to live the dream with the EU.

[Toodles McGinty]

Corbyn seems very happy to live the dream with the EU.

Nonsense. You know he's Eurosceptic.

Be easier for the membership if he was quite content to stay in Europe, and yes, he's toeing the party line, but he's ranted against Europe for years.

Having said that, he's the leader for now. Not forever. How long he stays depends on the next few days or months. However long we stay in for.

[Hamble]

Nonsense. You know he's Eurosceptic.

Be easier for the membership if he was quite content to stay in Europe, and yes, he's toeing the party line, but he's ranted against Europe for years.

Having said that, he's the leader for now. Not forever. How long he stays depends on the next few days or months. However long we stay in for.

One cannot be a Eurosceptic and EU Customs Union Devotee.

[silver fox]

One cannot be a Eurosceptic and EU Customs Union Devotee.

Possibly because he puts the interests of the country before his own personal thoughts.

The ideal combination, he wouldn't roll over and just accept whatever the EU wants, he would stand within the EU for Britain's interests, yet retain the advantages.

[said]

Possibly because he puts the interests of the country before his own personal thoughts.

The ideal combination, he wouldn't roll over and just accept whatever the EU wants, he would stand within the EU for Britain's interests, yet retain the advantages.

Ha!HA! In your dreams! The reason the referendum was called in the first place was because the EU were unwilling to discuss any variation of their legislation in favour of the UK. That was where the problem lies with the EU, every single member was given the same legislation even though the needs of each country differed. What do Labour supporters think - that the EU are going to look at Corbyn as the great God and that they will do everything he asks?

Puts the country before himself? When the Labour party are supported by the middle classes - be damned to the working classes!

[local]

Possibly because he puts the interests of the country before his own personal thoughts.

The ideal combination, he wouldn't roll over and just accept whatever the EU wants, he would stand within the EU for Britain's interests, yet retain the advantages.

Surely the great one's personal thoughts should be at one with the interests or will of the country.


Otherwise we have the same problems we have now.


David Cameron tried to fight for Britains interests from within the EU their failure to help him led to the referendum result.


Even now the EU's abject failure to wish to address the sticking points in the deal speaks legion,

If you love someone let them go.

[Toodles McGinty]

Ha!HA! In your dreams! The reason the referendum was called in the first place was because the EU were unwilling to discuss any variation of their legislation in favour of the UK.

Do you think if you write something, it becomes true magically?
The referendum was called because Cameron feared Tory voters were switching to UKIP, particularly after a couple of MPs and an MEP crossed the floor. To appease the Tory electorate and the far right Eurosceptics, he put the referendum in the manifesto.

The EU actually DID discuss variation in their legislation, and they granted it to us. On further political integration and on immigrant's benefits. And quite a lot more. But Theresa May stuck her nose in and vetoed the whole thing. And she veoted talks between Cameron and the Tory rebels that might have calmed the situation. Karma is a *****.

When the Labour party are supported by the middle classes - be damned to the working classes!

Sure. You can't move in your average Labour club for quinoa and spiralizers.

[Ceam]

Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

and me, What where people expecting?



Also, I wish people would stop making this about Conservative v's Labour. This is about us as a nation removing ourselves from the rest of the E.U. It's has clearly gone way beyond political party politics. Grow up people.

[steve]

The referendum was called as stated above because Cameron worried about rise of UKIP and never thought it would ever be favoured.

Irish Border - if we went no deal out on Friday I can't see Ireland setting up checkpoints / custom checks the next day or weeks.

I'm not convinced France might say Non to the Rosbif. Merkal playing good cop, Macron bad cop today. Or we are made to bend over backwards yet again. Do they want a load of brexit MEP's in their Parliament because that would be the likely result of euro elections in England.

[salus.populi]

Surely the great one's personal thoughts should be at one with the interests or will of the country.
.

The best interests of the country and the will of a small misguided and lied to majority of the country are not necessarily compatible.

[Alikado]

If we do have to participate in the Euro Elections who says that the main parties will compete, they may very well decide that it a meaningless exercise and a waste of money so just leave it to fringe parties and cranks.