This is the fourth in our brief series of posts on the decision of Her Majesty’s UK Government (“HMG”) to modify—‘clarify’ to use their word—the terms of the Agreement to withdraw the UK from membership of the EU. We start with the latest spat, which arises because under EU rules there are restrictions on certain … More More on Sovereignty

Will the year-long ‘Transition’ from formally leaving the EU be to an agreeable or disagreeable relationship? The answer depends at least on answers to these questions. Question 1. Why did Johnson sign a bad withdrawal agreement (WA) and now wants to change it? Parliament had rejected Theresa May’s bad deal three times but also refused … More Red Lines and Deadlines

Passing some time until an agreement is reached—or not—between the EU and the UK, we reviewed some of our posts from before the UK Referendum and summarise our thoughts in the light of more recent events. The unjustified centralisation and top-down control of the EU provide sufficiently strong reasons for Britain, having avoided joining EMU, … More Not Our ‘Ode to Joy’

Back in April 2019 we wrote to Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat Speaker of the US Congress, concerning her comments about Brexit, the Irish border and a US-UK trade deal [1]. She didn’t answer and we don’t think the President Elect will do us the honour but at least he has shown he will not ignore … More Dear Joe

There’s a gap between what the EU says it is and what it really is. This is not simply because the project is incomplete and has (inevitably) encountered some bumps in its path. There are two main reasons why this European Union cannot work, from which all our concerns follow: 1. What the EU really … More Is EU is or is EU Ain’t?

Michel Barnier, having been told not to bother coming to London because there was nothing to discuss if the EU was refusing to compromise now says both sides must compromise. A compromise deal is looking fairly likely but will the UK be compromised by it? Deal or no deal, the UK has already been deeply … More Compromise Deal

A freedom of information law should be a sign of open and honest government so naturally it is included in the EU‘s rules, though not necessarily in its practice. “All Members of the Commission are expected to make public…all the contacts and meetings held in their capacity with professional organisations or self-employed individuals on any … More Freedom From Information-2

It is the habit of the EU to bury both information and misinformation in dungheap-sized mountains of words, which both tell us little about what the EU Project is up to and gives the EU room to do very much what it pleases. The EU is skilled at dishing up propaganda. It’s treaties are not … More Rule of Law for EU

While there is much more that could be said about the remaining Articles, Protocols and Annexes, we pick out just some more general bits; much detail is missed out but nothing that alters what we have written so far—you can always read the original text to bridge the gaps. The treaties are laborious but don’t … More EU Treaties-9: Miscellaneous

Some terms used by the EU are unique to them or may be confusing or mysterious for other reasons. Here we offer a few examples, with our explanatory notes: ‘may’ and ‘shall’, ‘taking into account’, ‘legislative procedures’, ‘approximation’ of laws, ‘consensus’. 1. Instruction v. Permission The treaties often use the terms ‘may’ and ‘shall’ and … More EU Treaties-8: Terminology