Brexit part XI: 2021

sabenapilot · Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:29 pm

Meanwhile, logistics is booming in the EU, on the back of British companies moving into the SM

Logistics and warehousing companies in the Netherlands are being inundated with requests from British businesses looking to rent warehouse space, as the country experiences a Brexit boom in investment and jobs. Thousands of small British businesses have been plunged into crisis by the UK’s departure from the EU, with exports to the continent collapsing because of delays at ports, increased shipping costs, and the sudden addition of VAT, customs duties, and in some cases tariffs, on shipments sent from the UK to customers within the bloc.
The number of British companies searching for a base in the country has doubled in the last 18 months, the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) said on Tuesday. The agency has a list of more than 500 global firms considering investing in the Netherlands because of Brexit – half of which are UK companies.
By distributing from inside the bloc, UK firms are able to avoid their customers in the 27 EU member states being hit by VAT charges, customs duties and lengthy port delays which have impacted cross-border trade since 1 January.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... est-abroad

LJ · Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:52 pm

olle wrote:
Today DE talks about Swexit;

(79% of Swedes would vote for EU membership and only 14% against)

-------------------------

EU on brink as Swexit calls mount: 'UK did all heavy lifting for non-euro states'
EU leaders were warned of a major backlash from Sweden after Stockholm admitted the UK "did all the heavy lifting for non-euro states", sparking calls for Swexit.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/13 ... ussels-spt

I wonder how long it will take before our beloved Finnish (and favourite of the Express) MEP Laura Huhtasaari turns up again in the Express. I haven't seen her in the Express for over a week.

In other news, Brexit seems to be very positive for mainland EU countries as UK retailers seek warehouse space.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/26/brexit-dutch-warehouse-boom-as-uk-firms-forced-to-invest-abroad

94717 · Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:38 am

LJ wrote:
olle wrote:
Today DE talks about Swexit;

(79% of Swedes would vote for EU membership and only 14% against)

-------------------------

EU on brink as Swexit calls mount: 'UK did all heavy lifting for non-euro states'
EU leaders were warned of a major backlash from Sweden after Stockholm admitted the UK "did all the heavy lifting for non-euro states", sparking calls for Swexit.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/13 ... ussels-spt

I wonder how long it will take before our beloved Finnish (and favourite of the Express) MEP Laura Huhtasaari turns up again in the Express. I haven't seen her in the Express for over a week.

In other news, Brexit seems to be very positive for mainland EU countries as UK retailers seek warehouse space.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/26/brexit-dutch-warehouse-boom-as-uk-firms-forced-to-invest-abroad

DE mention 'UK did all heavy lifting for non-euro states'. That is actually true in own interest. Sweden now have the situation that Baltics and Finland has Euro - by the way Finland is 3 hours away from Stockholm by Ferry to Swedish talking Mariehamn.

With Sweden soon not having physical money and the older generation in majority voting against Euro for 15 years ago in combination that Sweden after Brext getting closer and closer to Germany financially and business, I see Sweden having little too loose to join Euro in a few years. People will not even recognize.

Sweden has often also aligned itself with UK trying too keep a federal Europe away as much as possible, but defence is much more interesting. Nato is a big no way on the left side, but EU defense seems more OK.

tommy1808 · Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:46 am

olle wrote:
Nato is a big no way on the left side, but EU defense seems more OK.

actually the current EU treaty has a mutual defense requirement that is much more stringent than the North Atlantic Treaty.

best regards
Thomas

94717 · Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:44 am

tommy1808 wrote:
olle wrote:
Nato is a big no way on the left side, but EU defense seems more OK.

actually the current EU treaty has a mutual defense requirement that is much more stringent than the North Atlantic Treaty.

best regards
Thomas

This is my point. In Sweden NATO is a big No, NO! On the left side, but the obligations we have signed up for inside EU we do not talk about at all it seems.

Also the test balloon to increase defense activities inside EU that happens as we speak does not create any opinion.

Compare this to UK as example where NATO is fully supported but EU defense and obligation creates lots of opinion is indeed striking.

Considering how important Sweden and Finland is to defend Baltics for NATO and EU I can see a future that EU increase its defense role and EU become NATO member instead of each individual EU member.

Dutchy · Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:53 am

olle wrote:
Considering how important Sweden and Finland is to defend Baltics for NATO and EU I can see a future that EU increase its defense role and EU become NATO member instead of each individual EU member.

It might, NATO membership for the EU. But that is way in the future, say at least 30years. First, the EU defense force needs to come into play and become fully integrated. (and of course Scotland will have joined and Ireland has become one)

94717 · Wed Jan 27, 2021 11:41 am

Dutchy wrote:
olle wrote:
Considering how important Sweden and Finland is to defend Baltics for NATO and EU I can see a future that EU increase its defense role and EU become NATO member instead of each individual EU member.

It might, NATO membership for the EU. But that is way in the future, say at least 30years. First, the EU defense force needs to come into play and become fully integrated. (and of course Scotland will have joined and Ireland has become one)

Of course that is true.

But during the time I see Sweden and probably Finland officially putting its effort into EU defense rather then NATO...

Unofficially Sweden and Finland is already very close to NATO today. For example NATO uses Swedish airfields in Småland and Gotland for airdefense of Baltics already.

https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/news/2 ... w-heights/

sabenapilot · Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:32 pm

After the covid sidestep, back to the topic of managing Brexit and its consequences:

After the U.K. and the EU reached a last minute agreement at the end of last year, Whitehall has been scrambling to try and implement the deal’s “institutional framework”.

The main problem is that the U.K. and EU have signed three co-dependent deals rather than just one. These three bureaucratic buckets include the international structures laid out in the Withdrawal Agreement, which set out the terms of Britain’s EU departure and was finalized in 2019. Then there are the bodies needed to operate the Northern Irish Protocol, designed to protect the Good Friday peace agreement. And then there’s the Christmas Eve deal itself, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which has its own complex governance needs.

Drilling down into the latest of the 3, the TCA reveals no fewer than 19 specialized committees and four working groups, each with complex reporting lines into one another, but there’s more devil in the detail of the Christmas Eve deal for lawmakers on both sides of the Channel. The TCA outlines a “Parliamentary Partnership Assembly” made up of MEPs and British MPs “as a forum to exchange views on the partnership.”

The question of how Whitehall can try and handle all this is already weighing on the U.K. government, according to officials. One early point is whether or not handling the EU-U.K. relationship should sit with a dedicated EU minister in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said Thimont Jack, while there’s speculation the Cabinet Office, which traditionally coordinates work right across the U.K. government, could take charge. Yet giving the EU special treatment in this way could worry backbench MPs eager to move on from Brexit.
One British official familiar with efforts to set up and staff all the different committees said the deal had created a “mini-EU.” Another former U.K. official who worked in Brussels until last year said it would be like the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) council, the intergovernmental organization of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland — only far less transparent.

You can find a diagram showing exactly how the UK and the EU will be in a permanent state of bilateral (re)negotations after the 'clean break' of last year...
https://www.politico.eu/article/brexit- ... de-policy/
Sounds very much like the relationship Switzerland enjoys with the EU, where more than half of the working time at the federal assembly in Bern is dedicated to overseeing the many aspects of the numerous bilateral agreements with the EU.

SQ22 · Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:13 pm

May I kindly ask you to keep this thread on topic instead of playing COVID UK vs. EU? Thanks.

LJ · Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:37 pm

Some Express readers are disappointed after Jersey decided to grant French fisher(wo)men access to its waters.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1389830/Brexit-latest-france-news-fishermen-jersey-fish-European-union

One of the best comments under the article;

I thought Jersey and Guernsey were a strong, proud people and now they have proved they are Cowards. I for one will not be going back there on Holiday again

One keeps wondering where did they go on holiday before and which places are left for the die hard Brexiteer to go on holiday beside its own country (Scotland excluded probably due to its drive towards independence).

Aesma · Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:55 pm

Didn't the same thing happen about 1 year ago ? The article doesn't say it but the thing is Jersey's and Guernsey's fisherpeople land most of their fish in France. So without agreement that wouldn't be possible...

sabenapilot · Thu Jan 28, 2021 1:00 pm

But this is quite a normal agreement between Jersey and France, I should think?

Where do you think the fish caught by vessels from Jersey is landed, sold and consumed? On the tiny island of Jersey itself?
.
If the UK already felt the pressure to give in to the EU at the last minute on the FTA agreed last Christmas, and if Gibraltar basically abandonned the UK all but completely, then why would Jersey decide to do any different?

I sometimes question what world view some people in Britain have, to the point they seem to believe they live in a small provincial village fighting with and resisting the mighty Roman Empire, mainly thanks to their magic potion (called 'Brexit").
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix

LJ · Thu Jan 28, 2021 1:15 pm

First reports looking at the UK trade position do not look good (and this is mostly attributed to Brexit)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-flashes-brexit-trade-trouble-070806117.html

Most telling is the sharp drop in competitiveness in the EU market since 2016, but also the sharp decline in the latest figures,

sabenapilot · Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:14 pm

LJ wrote:
First reports looking at the UK trade position do not look good (and this is mostly attributed to Brexit)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-flashes-brexit-trade-trouble-070806117.html

Most telling is the sharp drop in competitiveness in the EU market since 2016, but also the sharp decline in the latest figures,

Brexit disruption in the first quarter of 2021 was likely to reduce British economic output by around 1%, International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Gita Gopinath said on Wednesday. Trade experts think some of the extra cost and bureaucracy will be permanent.

A 1% cut in the GDP of Q1 is in fact a massive hit!
It wipes away more than 7BN in Q1, more than 4 times the UK's annual contribution to the EU budget (so before the rebate and before any direct budget returns from the EU).
To put iit even more clearly: by March 15th or about, the budget saving from leaving the EU will be zero for the UK and beyond that date, it's only costing the UK more money to be out.
I guess the red bus promissing popular ideas to spend the money saved will have to stay parked for quite a while.

sabenapilot · Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:09 pm

In another sign Brexit means the UK has lost the automatic diplomatic support of fellow EU memberstates, a UN court ruled the UK has no sovereignty over Chagos islands (Indian Ocean) and criticised London for its failure to hand the territory back to Mauritius as the ICJ demanded in 2019.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55848126

Following a vote at the UN which Britain lost because it failed to rise support from EU memberstates, the dispute over sovereignty over the Chagos was sent to the ICJ for an advisory opinion, which came down unanimously against the UK in 2019, declaring that Britain was in violation of international law and should immediately move to complete the process of "decolonisation" in relation to Mauritius. This ICJ's advisory opinion has now been given a powerful endorsement by the ITLS. The ruling by the maritime law tribunal of the United Nations should enable Mauritius to start settling its new maritime borders.

And so the illlusion of British to still have a global empire is starting to unravel further...

GDB · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:04 am

Irony alert 1; Pig farmers caught out, well what did they expect from a PM who tells 'porkies' second only to Trump, (as Mayor Of London he spoke in favour of the EU), in 2008. Channel 4 gave him an hour to be serious for the one time in his life, extolling the virtues of an early Turkish EU entry, admittedly before that piece of work was entrenched as ruler there, best (or worst) of all, Johnson said that his support for Brexit was predicated on how it might aid his effort to be PM.
As he said when tough questions were asked about this folly in 2018, 'f**k business!'
(Easy to say from a man who has had everything handed to him all his life).

Yet many, likely a majority of farmers voted Leave, how is that working out?
https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/brexit/pig- ... 96.article

Irony alert 2; This must hurt, still her husband should never have made that stupid promise to appease his base and more idiotic MP's, at least John Major described the latter accurately as 'bastards';
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... ing-issues

Heard (maybe) in the Cameron household;

'See what you've done, why didn't you listen to George about doing that stupid referendum? He warned you, I warned you, but oh no, you just had to try and placate those bastards, who never accepted you, should have just told all those awful people at party meetings to piss off to UKIP if they like.
That's your trouble, thought it would be a rerun of Scotland.
Now look, that backstabbing, disgusting, idiot Johnson is PM, you lost your job, I'm losing the only thing keeping me sane in this bloody lockdown.
Just.....get out of my sight, go to that f**cking stupid shed!'

Bostrom · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:35 am

zkojq wrote:
Could Lloyd's of London relocate to Paris? Pierre's of Paris has a nice ring to it if they're going to use a relocation as an opportunity for a rebrand.

They could move to Burgundy…

Reinhardt · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:48 am

sabenapilot wrote:
.

Is there any rational thinking left on the British Isles, or is everything still centered on some religious belief in Brexit which must absolutely be kept pure at all cost?
I see government is having ever more problems convincing their subjects to keep the faith and not to lose their belief in brexit.

Well lets just remember as always that the UK govenment doesn't speak for all Brits, currently only 39% if you go by the polls. There is plently of rational thinkers, they just aren't in govenment, aren't being represented on TV programs and as had been the case since the Brexit campaign started, aren't being listened to.

Anything that puts the plucky Brit up against the jolly foreigner like the vaccine will be immediately ceased upon. Even if it isn't a Brit but a multi-national with a factory in the UK, that's still 'British' in the terms of this type of arguement.

Brexiteers who wanted no deal, or didn't care about what the deal would be, they just wanted out will stand behind Boris because he delivered A brexit. For everything the govenment have done wrong over covid it's looked upon and stated "well nobody else could have done any better, certainly not Corbyn" or "captain hindsight" (Starmer). Which is a nonsense.

Brexit isn't working for those companies that relied on cross border deliveries, this is as clear as day. I just hope the calls grow louder over the coming months for a new negotiation of some sorts. But this vaccine nonsense won't help, and will only push the right and Brexiteers to show it's another reason why we should stay as far away from the EU as possible.

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:51 pm

Its take a lot to unite Unionist and Nationalist on the Island of Ireland but tonight this has managed to do just that. What is ironic is I personally thought it would be the UK government that triggered ( or parts of it ) first. I thought the EU would only trigger in a total state of emergency as it was assumed they knew what the political fallout would be. The people who they claim to protect and support the interests of under the GFA have just been thrown under a train according to them. SDLP / Alliance are now on the same page as DUP. Even Sinn Fein are finding it hard to disagree and when that happens its pretty serious.

The Irish government are calling urgent meetings with those involved on both sides of the border and observers who know the GFA inside out are now worried that the bar has now been lowered for triggering article 16 and that worries Nationalists who fear the UK government now have the excuse they need because they can always refer to what the EU have done.

What people fail to realise is that when they hurt NI they actually hurt the whole Island of Ireland and the Irish support their own when under threat. You only have to look back to the statements made from the Irish government about their willingness to protect NI from anything the UK government might try to do. Maybe the EU dont realise what they have done because if they have done this knowing full well the long term implications and lack of trust it will generate from pro EU NI / Irish citizens then its not the best path to tread.

I despise Arlene Foster and the DUP but tonight I cant disagree with her comments. The EU have given the Unionists a weapon to use against them and nationalists. Im sure many in Scotland will be watching this with dismay also. Having spoken to some friends in Aberdeen tonight they are shell shocked by this move.

Hopefully the EU will row back before its too late.

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:53 pm

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has contacted EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over plans in Brussels to block the supply of Covid-19 vaccines to Northern Ireland.

The EU is planning to override the Northern Ireland protocol, signed as part of Brexit, to prevent vaccines manufactured on the continent from being delivered to the UK.

The move follows a very public spat between the EU and vaccine manufacture AstraZeneca.

A Government source said the Taoiseach had not being given any advance warning of the EU decision to invoke the article in the protocol. The source said the article may have been inadvertently triggered by “someone who did not understand the political implications” of the decision.

www.independent.ie/news/taoiseach-conta ... 28406.html

gkirk · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:10 pm

The EU have severely cocked this one up. And I'm usually a supporter of the EU.

sevenair · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:11 pm

Sinn Fein have strongly condemned this egregious act by the EU.

I have never known the British Islands be so united on a single issue in this mannar. Peace is precious to us all. We are all shocked, saddened and upset that the EU can get this so badly wrong especially when the GFA was such as a pivotal issue since June 2016 and considering the extend to which NI was used a pawn by the EU.

Utterly disgraceful..

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:18 pm

gkirk wrote:
The EU have severely cocked this one up. And I'm usually a supporter of the EU.

Yes its really backfired it a monumental mess up . If they dont get it then they have a lot to learn about NI politics. Its causing a frenzy on every media page on the Island. The EU have put a hard border on the Island of Ireland is what everyones saying. Nationalist and Unionist alike. I have never seen such solidarity in 25 years of living on this Island.

Official reaction from Sinn Fein and dont forget this from the political party that was part of the IRA !

https://twitter.com/moneillsf/status/13 ... 93286?s=20

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:29 pm

News channels on the Island of Ireland scrambling tonight to get live interviews with politicians on all sides of the divide and from the Irish government. This makes the EU - AZ spat like a fall in the playground. If I were the EU I would urgently act . The damage being done to Irish EU citizens on both sides of the border is troubling.

Govt had 'no advance warning' of EU decision to trigger Article 16

The Irish Government was not given advance warning of the European Commission's decision to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol in order to bring in new monitoring controls on exports of Covid-19 vaccines outside the EU, RTÉ News understands.

Irish officials are said to "very concerned" and "shocked" at the move and its implications.

www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/0129/1193 ... ne-brexit/

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:38 pm

Wow Mary Lou McDonald has even come out . The most pro EU and pro United Ireland politician you have seen since Gerry Adams.

https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald/sta ... 51522?s=20

sabenapilot · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:41 pm

OA260 wrote:
News channels on the Island of Ireland scrambling tonight to get live interviews with politicians on all sides of the divide and from the Irish government. This makes the EU - AZ spat like a fall in the playground. If I were the EU I would urgently act . The damage being done to Irish EU citizens on both sides of the border is troubling.

http://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/01 ... ne-brexit/

No need to get so wound up, OA260. From your own source:
It is believed a resolution to the row is "in sight".
Senior government sources have indicated to RTÉ News that the Government's concerns have been taken onboard, following a number of direct discussions between the Taoiseach and the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen.

Export from the ROI to NI will not be affected as the territory is considered as part of the SM by the EU.
It will however mean the UK will likely have to accept increased custom and border checks between NI and the UK to see if no vaccine smuggling is going on there.
And so NI is going to be cut off a bit more from the UK than it already was, as from this weekend, when the new EU rules take effect.
Case closed.

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:46 pm

sabenapilot wrote:

So if the Brits want the EU to row back, OA260 maybe it should clarify if indeed

But you dont get it do you? Its the IRISH that are calling for it as EU Citizens supposed to be under the protection of the EU. You normally write tons of paragraphs on these issues yet nothing on tonights massive mistake . Or do you support the triggering of Article 16 or parts of it? If it was the other way around we would have pages of analysis from you but I think you wish this one would quietly go away it seems. I hate Arlene Foster but even I have to agree with her tonight. Do you not realise what has been done with this act?

Coronavirus: NI parties unite against EU controls on vaccines amid 22 deaths and 669 new cases

Northern Ireland's political parties have united to denounce an EU move to halt the operation of an element of Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol as part of the bloc's attempts to control the export of vaccinations from the EU.

First Minister Arlene Foster branded the EU's triggering of Article 16 of the protocol to stop the unfettered flow of vaccines from the EU into Northern Ireland as an "incredible act of hostility".

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/ ... 27178.html

sabenapilot · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:55 pm

OA260 wrote:
sabenapilot wrote:

So if the Brits want the EU to row back, OA260 maybe it should clarify if indeed

But you dont get it do you? Its the IRISH that are calling for it as EU Citizens supposed to be under the protection of the EU. You normally write tons of paragraphs on these issues yet nothing on tonights massive mistake . Or do you support the triggering of Article 16 or parts of it? If it was the other way around we would have pages of analysis from you but I think you wish this one would quietly go away it seems. I hate Arlene Foster but even I have to agree with her tonight. Do you not realise what has been done with this act?

Again: relax.
You're being carried away here and you're about the only one as you can see.
A solution has already been found to bind NI ever more closer into the EU, so no need for me to fill pages on it like you say: the people at the EU can do that much better than I can.
All the UK has to do is accept it, but I'm sure that's just a formality, right?

On a personal note: allow me to say I'm happy to see you're alive and well still, because after starting up this topic to demonstrate to all Brexit ment business as usual, you suddenly left us, coincidentially I'm sure exactly when the signs of the contrary were getting overwhelming. Good to see you're well in these difficult Covid times.

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:57 pm

Seems common sense has prevailed and they have indeed rowed back after realising the serious error made. Quite unprofessional and an investigation must follow. You cant play games with the important article 16 and the GFA. I dont care if its Boris or the EU they both have a role to respect this . Its not for using as a weapon on either side.

EU backtracks on decision to block supply of vaccines to Northern Ireland

The EU has backtracked on a decision to block vaccines being transported into Northern Ireland.

Article 16 of the Northern Protocol signed as part of Brexit will not be triggered and vaccines will be permitted to travel freely into the North

An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

www.independent.ie/news/eu-backtracks-o ... 28406.html

sabenapilot · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:00 pm

OA260 wrote:
Seems common sense has prevailed and they have indeed rowed back after realising the serious error made. Quite unprofessional and an investigation must follow. You cant play games with the important article 16 and the GFA. I dont care if its Boris or the EU they both have a role to respect this . Its not for using as a weapon on either side.

EU backtracks on decision to block supply of vaccines to Northern Ireland

The EU has backtracked on a decision to block vaccines being transported into Northern Ireland.

Article 16 of the Northern Protocol signed as part of Brexit will not be triggered and vaccines will be permitted to travel freely into the North

An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

As was already said here by me, well over an hour ago...
Now take a seat and have a cup of tea.
The intra-UK border down the Irish Sea just got a bit deeper again as a consequence: as from this weekend, you can add vaccine export checks to the list of duties overseen by EU custom agents in Belfast.
Boris sure is digging deep for Britain: first he manages to get a ban on vaccine export to the UK in place from the EU and then having to accept an even deeper intra-UK border to carve NI out again (as the GFA requires him too accept).

tommy1808 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:03 pm

OA260 wrote:
An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

Given how fast this happened it would seem pretty likely that some bureaucrat concluded a) has to follow b), and pulled the trigger. Unfortunate in deed, but just a few years ago few people would have even noticed before the error was fixed. Internet is an awesome rage machine.

Best regards
Thomas

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:08 pm

sabenapilot wrote:
OA260 wrote:
Seems common sense has prevailed and they have indeed rowed back after realising the serious error made. Quite unprofessional and an investigation must follow. You cant play games with the important article 16 and the GFA. I dont care if its Boris or the EU they both have a role to respect this . Its not for using as a weapon on either side.

EU backtracks on decision to block supply of vaccines to Northern Ireland

The EU has backtracked on a decision to block vaccines being transported into Northern Ireland.

Article 16 of the Northern Protocol signed as part of Brexit will not be triggered and vaccines will be permitted to travel freely into the North

An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

As was already said here by me, well over an hour ago...
Now take a seat and have a cup of tea.
The intra-UK border down the Irish Sea just got a bit deeper again: as from this weekend, you can add vaccine export checks to the list of duties overseen by EU custom agents in Belfast.

Im sure they wont make the same mistake again. Hopefully they have learned an important lesson.

. The same goes for the UK government dont mess with the NI/Irish

I dont have a problem with the border down the Irish sea and personally I have noticed no difference in my ability to obtain goods and at M&S today shelves were full. Amazon orders coming in ok from the UK. Only one delayed parcel from UPS but they say its due to a scanning error so all is good. Im not worried about much really just want to know when I can travel/fly freely again as a proud European

sabenapilot · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:09 pm

tommy1808 wrote:
OA260 wrote:
An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

Given how fast this happened it would seem pretty likely that some bureaucrat concluded a) has to follow b), and pulled the trigger. Unfortunate in deed, but just a few years ago few people would have even noticed before the error was fixed. Internet is an awesome rage machine.

Best regards
Thomas

It wasn't even triggered, since that has to be done by a specific procedure: effectively nothing happened today on this front, so case closed.

Other than yet another clear demonstration that:
1- the EU stands up for its rights and will not hesitate for a second to act to protect its interests in full against the UK or any other third country.
2- the EU does not throw the ROI under a bus ever, much to the disbelief of Brexiteers and Unionist alike.

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:13 pm

sabenapilot wrote:
tommy1808 wrote:
OA260 wrote:
An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

Given how fast this happened it would seem pretty likely that some bureaucrat concluded a) has to follow b), and pulled the trigger. Unfortunate in deed, but just a few years ago few people would have even noticed before the error was fixed. Internet is an awesome rage machine.

Best regards
Thomas

It wasn't even triggered, since that has to be done by a specific procedure: effectively nothing happened today on this front, so case closed.

Other than yet another clear demonstration that:
1- the EU stands up for its rights and will not hesitate for a second to act to protect its interests in full.
2- the EU does not throw the ROI under a bus ever, much to the disbelief of Brexiteers and Unionist alike.

RTE Irish state television seems to think this was resolved very quickly due to the outcry from all sides of the divide. It might actually focus minds on both sides that it doesnt take much to trigger tensions in NI and that applies to the EU and UK government so tread carefully.

94717 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:16 pm

OA260 wrote:
Seems common sense has prevailed and they have indeed rowed back after realising the serious error made. Quite unprofessional and an investigation must follow. You cant play games with the important article 16 and the GFA. I dont care if its Boris or the EU they both have a role to respect this . Its not for using as a weapon on either side.

EU backtracks on decision to block supply of vaccines to Northern Ireland

The EU has backtracked on a decision to block vaccines being transported into Northern Ireland.

Article 16 of the Northern Protocol signed as part of Brexit will not be triggered and vaccines will be permitted to travel freely into the North

An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

So the error has been handled it seems.

Interesting that suddenly Brexiteers are concerned about GFA?

Who would have guessed?

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:22 pm

olle wrote:
OA260 wrote:
Seems common sense has prevailed and they have indeed rowed back after realising the serious error made. Quite unprofessional and an investigation must follow. You cant play games with the important article 16 and the GFA. I dont care if its Boris or the EU they both have a role to respect this . Its not for using as a weapon on either side.

EU backtracks on decision to block supply of vaccines to Northern Ireland

The EU has backtracked on a decision to block vaccines being transported into Northern Ireland.

Article 16 of the Northern Protocol signed as part of Brexit will not be triggered and vaccines will be permitted to travel freely into the North

An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

So the error has been handled it seems.

Interesting that suddenly Brexiteers are concerned about GFA?

Who would have guessed?

No it was ALL people that were concerned see posts above on the Twitter feed . You may need to educate yourself on NI politics to understand. This went well above A v B ! It united both sides in Unionism and Nationalism . anti Brext and pro Brexit alike.

94717 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:29 pm

UK exports to EU seems to crash;
----------------------------------
export slump, as two-thirds of lorries leaving UK empty

It comes as the scale of Britain’s export slump was revealed. Some 65 per cent of lorries travelling from the UK to the EU are empty, according to figures from French border authorities. “The balance of UK trade has been badly affected,” said the Road Haulage Association.

Meanwhile, the government admitted up to 142,000 tonnes of food could be wasted over the next six months because of border disruption. Labour demanded ministers “take action now to support our exporters and prevent this costly food waste”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 94600.html

94717 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:33 pm

OA260 wrote:
olle wrote:
OA260 wrote:
Seems common sense has prevailed and they have indeed rowed back after realising the serious error made. Quite unprofessional and an investigation must follow. You cant play games with the important article 16 and the GFA. I dont care if its Boris or the EU they both have a role to respect this . Its not for using as a weapon on either side.

EU backtracks on decision to block supply of vaccines to Northern Ireland

The EU has backtracked on a decision to block vaccines being transported into Northern Ireland.

Article 16 of the Northern Protocol signed as part of Brexit will not be triggered and vaccines will be permitted to travel freely into the North

An European Commission source described the decision to invoke the article as an “oversight”.

http://www.independent.ie/news/eu-backt ... 28406.html

So the error has been handled it seems.

Interesting that suddenly Brexiteers are concerned about GFA?

Who would have guessed?

No it was ALL people that were concerned see posts above on the Twitter feed . You may need to educate yourself on NI politics to understand. This went well above A v B ! It united both sides in Unionism and Nationalism . anti Brext and pro Brexit alike.

I actually agree that GFA is very important to maintain. Perhaps one of the most important of the Brexit story.

That has all time been the EU position as well.

The UK government has not cared until today.

It seems like when EU recognized the consequences they have excluded the border checks ROI NI and moved it to include NI as member of SM within hours.

tommy1808 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:42 pm

olle wrote:
UK exports to EU seems to crash;
----------------------------------
export slump, as two-thirds of lorries leaving UK empty

It comes as the scale of Britain’s export slump was revealed. Some 65 per cent of lorries travelling from the UK to the EU are empty, according to figures from French border authorities. “The balance of UK trade has been badly affected,” said the Road Haulage Association.

Meanwhile, the government admitted up to 142,000 tonnes of food could be wasted over the next six months because of border disruption. Labour demanded ministers “take action now to support our exporters and prevent this costly food waste”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 94600.html

Just for the record, and I am always amazed what treasure trophe Eurostat is: average empty tours in cross border intra EU truck traffic was 12.3% in 2018. Also, two weeks ago, when I looked that up, the number was 40% empty back from the UK. That is quite brutal.

Best regards
Thomas

Tugger · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:48 pm

sabenapilot wrote:
It's got to be a gift of nature.

No gift. They are the same the world over (the "first world" over, of course that is now considered a highly conflicted and derogatory term). Politicians are what they are, as are the bureaucrats that run the nations "back offices".
EU, UK, US, CN, JP... and whoever else you want to put in there.

The problem is when people start to think one set is better than the other.

Tugg

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:55 pm

olle wrote:
OA260 wrote:
olle wrote:

So the error has been handled it seems.

Interesting that suddenly Brexiteers are concerned about GFA?

Who would have guessed?

No it was ALL people that were concerned see posts above on the Twitter feed . You may need to educate yourself on NI politics to understand. This went well above A v B ! It united both sides in Unionism and Nationalism . anti Brext and pro Brexit alike.

I actually agree that GFA is very important to maintain. Perhaps one of the most important of the Brexit story.

That has all time been the EU position as well.

The UK government has not cared until today.

It seems like when EU recognized the consequences they have excluded the border checks ROI NI and moved it to include NI as member of SM within hours.

Again it was the Irish and N Irish that were vocal tonight it wasnt about the British government . On all the media interviews and articles Boris wasnt mentioned. They dont give a damn about Boris they hate him. So it just goes to show how passionate they feel about it. There should be a mechanism that article 16 cant be triggered without going through at least 2 -3 official levels in the EU such is the importance of it. See it as a nuclear button thats not to be pressed lightly. Ive seen much less spark weeks of riots in NI and its not gone away. As many EU visitors have said over the years when they visit the border areas its a very fragile peace.

What was interesting was the tweet from an Irish person in Derry above where they said '' If thats how they treat the people who voted remain Im worried for the future ''.

I voted for the GFA passionately and will always defend it . If it came to a choice of protecting the GFA by voting for a United Ireland I would vote for it equally if the EU stopped supporting it just to punish the English I would vote for Ireland to leave the EU too. Never underestimate the importance of the GFA and the place it sits within people living on the Island of Ireland.

94717 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:00 pm

OA260 wrote:
olle wrote:
OA260 wrote:

No it was ALL people that were concerned see posts above on the Twitter feed . You may need to educate yourself on NI politics to understand. This went well above A v B ! It united both sides in Unionism and Nationalism . anti Brext and pro Brexit alike.

I actually agree that GFA is very important to maintain. Perhaps one of the most important of the Brexit story.

That has all time been the EU position as well.

The UK government has not cared until today.

It seems like when EU recognized the consequences they have excluded the border checks ROI NI and moved it to include NI as member of SM within hours.

Again it was the Irish and N Irish that were vocal tonight it wasnt about the British government . On all the media interviews and articles Boris wasnt mentioned. They dont give a damn about Boris they hate him. So it just goes to show how passionate they feel about it. There should be a mechanism that article 16 cant be triggered without going through at least 2 -3 official levels in the EU such is the importance of it. See it as a nuclear button thats not to be pressed lightly. Ive seen much less spark weeks of riots in NI and its not gone away. As many EU visitors have said over the years when they visit the border areas its a very fragile peace.

What was interesting was the tweet from an Irish person in Derry above where they said '' If thats how they treat the people who voted remain Im worried for the future ''.

I voted for the GFA passionately and will always defend it . If it came to a choice of protecting the GFA by voting for a United Ireland I would vote for it equally if the EU stopped supporting it just to punish the English I would vote for Ireland to leave the EU too. Never underestimate the importance of the GFA and the place it sits within people living on the Island of Ireland.

But according to the independent article EU has done a correction before it go into action and it will not happen. Has the rest of the new agencies recognized this?

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:06 pm

olle wrote:
OA260 wrote:
olle wrote:

I actually agree that GFA is very important to maintain. Perhaps one of the most important of the Brexit story.

That has all time been the EU position as well.

The UK government has not cared until today.

It seems like when EU recognized the consequences they have excluded the border checks ROI NI and moved it to include NI as member of SM within hours.

Again it was the Irish and N Irish that were vocal tonight it wasnt about the British government . On all the media interviews and articles Boris wasnt mentioned. They dont give a damn about Boris they hate him. So it just goes to show how passionate they feel about it. There should be a mechanism that article 16 cant be triggered without going through at least 2 -3 official levels in the EU such is the importance of it. See it as a nuclear button thats not to be pressed lightly. Ive seen much less spark weeks of riots in NI and its not gone away. As many EU visitors have said over the years when they visit the border areas its a very fragile peace.

What was interesting was the tweet from an Irish person in Derry above where they said '' If thats how they treat the people who voted remain Im worried for the future ''.

I voted for the GFA passionately and will always defend it . If it came to a choice of protecting the GFA by voting for a United Ireland I would vote for it equally if the EU stopped supporting it just to punish the English I would vote for Ireland to leave the EU too. Never underestimate the importance of the GFA and the place it sits within people living on the Island of Ireland.

But according to the independent article EU has done a correction before it go into action and it will not happen. Has the rest of the new agencies recognized this?

Sure it has already been reported after a united defence by Ireland / NI by the highest levels .

EU backs down after Northern Ireland Protocol row provoked fury and dismay on both sides of Irish Sea

THE EU HAS pulled back on plans to prevent Northern Ireland from being used as a back door to funnel coronavirus vaccine from the bloc into the rest of the UK, following an outcry on both sides of the Irish sea this evening.

www.thejournal.ie/arlene-foster-astraze ... 2-Jan2021/

94717 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:08 pm

Just a few thoughts;

40% of the trucks go back empty. Financial services FTA do not exist.

The Covid vaccine situation running national feelings high.

GFA is in danger by a simple mistake by a administrative error in a process going to fast. Even if now seems to be corrected.

World war one started for less. Project fear?

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:19 pm

olle wrote:
Just a few thoughts;

40% of the trucks go back empty. Financial services FTA do not exist.

The Covid vaccine situation running national feelings high.

GFA is in danger by a simple mistake by a administrative error in a process going to fast. Even if now seems to be corrected.

World war one started for less. Project fear?

What I would personally like to see is more co operation. There is a race to vaccinate populations and thats the issue. Economies depend on it. More importantly I would like to see a joint effort with wealthy nations once they get to a stage of being 70% vaccinated that they share their vaccines with poorer countries outside of the UK/EU/USA. Its become a very selfish scheme people forget that there are countries overwhelmed and no way out in sight but it rarely gets onto European TV screens. Take Palestine and Lebanon for example. It has been reported that the EU has dumped on Africa in the past maybe its time to reset the clock.

gkirk · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:31 pm

All sorted now though, well done to the EU for maing amends.

tommy1808 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:35 pm

OA260 wrote:
olle wrote:
Just a few thoughts;

40% of the trucks go back empty. Financial services FTA do not exist.

The Covid vaccine situation running national feelings high.

GFA is in danger by a simple mistake by a administrative error in a process going to fast. Even if now seems to be corrected.

World war one started for less. Project fear?

What I would personally like to see is more co operation. There is a race to vaccinate populations and thats the issue. Economies depend on it. More importantly I would like to see a joint effort with wealthy nations once they get to a stage of being 70% vaccinated that they share their vaccines with poorer countries outside of the UK/EU/USA.

It has been the stated goal of the EU to do just that as soon as enough vaccine is available. Most other countries did just, or not even, buy enough vaccine for themselves, the EU will provide vaccine to almost 1 billion people outside of the EU. Probably the lion share to nations that otherwise couldn't afford a large scale campaign. If suppliers keep their schedule, that may start in Q3.

Best regards
Thomas

Boeing74741R · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:43 pm

olle wrote:
It seems like when EU recognized the consequences they have excluded the border checks ROI NI and moved it to include NI as member of SM within hours.

From where I’m sitting (and I say this as somebody who voted to remain), the European Commission f***** up today by moving to trigger Article 16 as part of the vaccine fallout. You needn’t look further than the reaction from Dublin, London and both the Unionist and Nationalist parties in Northern Ireland to realise how unpopular and reckless it was. It’s not something that should be triggered lightly and certainly not without consultation first.

Whether it was a simple “administrative error” as you say or not (and good luck trying to dismiss it as such with those that were really outraged by it), whoever within the Commission made that decision should have known better. I hope those involved educate themselves on the history of Northern Ireland over the weekend and read up on the Good Friday Agreement. I also suggest once COVID-19 is history and we can travel freely once again, they pay a visit to Northern Ireland to see for themselves how fragile the peace situation is there.

OA260 · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:43 pm

Latest Tweet from UVDL

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/ ... 21928?s=20

Boeing74741R · Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:47 pm

gkirk wrote:
All sorted now though, well done to the EU for maing amends.

Indeed. It’s a pity it took universal condemnation throughout the island of Ireland and in London to do a U turn on the matter. It’s also a pity that it could have been easily avoided had whoever within the Commission realised the implications of their decisions and stopped to think if it was rational and appropriate at this time.

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