Is Brexit actually going to happen?

[8den]

All other members of the NI Assembly & everyone in Ireland right now...

 

[Pickman's model]

Never understood why they just didn't go the EFTA route. Politics nerds would have moaned but given how quickly the EU referendum dropped off the political radar once the vote was done I doubt it would have mattered.

My understanding is that a UK accession to efta would have been problematic as the UK would have been by far the largest economy in the association, a very big fish in a rather small pond

 

[SpackleFrog]

It matters because it is the law. If you're in the single market you can't make unilateral trade agreements.

Politics tends to trump law, particularly in the international sphere. It is not an obstacle that couldn't be overcome should there be political will to do so.

 

[Silas Loom]

They have made overtures saying that they would welcome an application.

 

[gosub]

MPs and peers criticise tight security around Brexit impact reports

 

[SpackleFrog]

It’s more that if you are in the EU you can’t. It’s in the Maastricht treaty (Spacklefrog can find chapter and verse himself).

Non-EU EEA or EFTA members can. If we were in the EEA (via EFTA) and sought a customs union as well, though, we probably couldn’t get that ability.

So now you're saying it is possible if a state is in the EEA or EFTA?

 

[SpackleFrog]

They have made overtures saying that they would welcome an application.

Link?

 

[Silas Loom]

So now you're saying it is possible if a state is in the EEA or EFTA?

Ireland is in the EU. You suggested that the UK and Ireland could do a side deal. I don’t know what earlier post of mine you’ve misread.

 

[gosub]

Never understood why they just didn't go the EFTA route. Politics nerds would have moaned but given how quickly the EU referendum dropped off the political radar once the vote was done I doubt it would have mattered.

nerds would have been fine, its the IMMIGRANTS! lot (as opposed to actual immigrants) that would will be apoplectic, but for them nothing in this counrty has been right since that nice Mr. Powell died. They wouldn't be happy even if they got what they wanted. They are not the sort of people to be happy.

 

[Silas Loom]

Joining Efta court may be Britain's only road to 'deep and special' EU partnership, says its president

Link?

How about one from today? Baudenbacher has been begging the UK to talk to him all year, though.

I’m not sure why I’m doing your googling for you.

 

[Pickman's model]

Link?

The Iceland foreign minister said it was an interesting idea a few months back

 

[SpackleFrog]

Ireland is in the EU. You suggested that the UK and Ireland could do a side deal. I don’t know what earlier post of mine you’ve misread.

I actually was asking about EU rules in general, not specifically Britain and Ireland. But presumably what you're saying is that if Britain were in EFTA or EEA they could do this deal?

 

[Pickman's model]

Joining Efta court may be Britain's only road to 'deep and special' EU partnership, says its president



How about one from today? Baudenbacher has been begging the UK to talk to him all year, though.

I’m not sure why I’m doing your googling for you.

You stupid boy. The public bit of that article says nothing about joining efta.

 

[redsquirrel]

It certainly seems like people care. There's this whole big fuss about it look.

Is there? In the real world outside the Westminster bubble? If people care so much then why wasn't the EU a bigger issue at the last election?

The "fuss" about it shows that politicians and commentators care about it, not that people necessarily do.

 

[SpackleFrog]

Joining Efta court may be Britain's only road to 'deep and special' EU partnership, says its president



How about one from today? Baudenbacher has been begging the UK to talk to him all year, though.

I’m not sure why I’m doing your googling for you.

Thanks. Presumably you have nothing better to do. Actually, you definitely have nothing better to do. But cheers, that was a useful link that backed up your claim, well done!

 

[Silas Loom]

I actually was asking about EU rules in general, not specifically Britain and Ireland. But presumably what you're saying is that if Britain were in EFTA or EEA they could do this deal?

Yes, but not if Britain wanted to negotiate a customs union into the bargain -or an agreement on the areas of trade not covered by EFTA.

You’re being rather importunate for someone who wants me to leave, by the way.

 

[SpackleFrog]

You stupid boy. The public bit of that article says nothing about joining efta.

Joining the EFTA court, so presumably joining EEA. Unless I'm getting my onion like layers of EU bureaucracy confused!

 

[SpackleFrog]

Yes, but not if Britain wanted to negotiate a customs union into the bargain -or an agreement on the areas of trade not covered by EFTA.

You’re being rather importunate for someone who wants me to leave, by the way.

I'm hoping it'll speed up the process. A bit like how when you defend the EU, people want to leave it more.

 

[Pickman's model]

Thanks. Presumably you have nothing better to do. Actually, you definitely have nothing better to do. But cheers, that was a useful link that backed up your claim, well done!

That shows nothing of the sort, it suggests the UK joining the EFTA court as that might be an alternative to the ecj for disputes with the eu

 

[Pickman's model]

Joining the EFTA court, so presumably joining EEA. Unless I'm getting my onion like layers of EU bureaucracy confused!

Seemed to be about the EFTA court as a substitute for the ecj

 

[gosub]

Seemed to be about the EFTA court as a substitute for the ecj

EFTA Court does for members of EFTA what ECJ does for EU members

 

[Pickman's model]

EFTA Court does for members of EFTA what ECJ does for EU members

Yeh. Perhaps you could help me out and point to where yer man said explicitly the UK should join efta

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Yeh. Perhaps you could help me out and point to where yer man said explicitly the UK should join efta

I can't access the whole article, but surely the only reason to join the EFTA court is to use it as the arbitrator for EFTA membership of the EEA?

 

[Pickman's model]

I can't access the whole article, but surely the only reason to join the EFTA court is to use it as the arbitrator for EFTA membership of the EEA?

Yeh. But yer man says as per headline joining the court may be Britain's way out of ecj morass, not come and join efta.

 

[bubblesmcgrath]

In fairness to the DUP they never signed the GFA.....

On a serious note, of course one of the possibly delicious ironies of their actions is the collapse of the Government, a snap election and a Corbyn victory. A scenario the DUP will presumably like even less.....

No. But they agreed to the power sharing agreement ...and Paisley snr helped broker all that was eventually agreed on to bring about the reality that has existed in NI since 2009.
The DUP has a responsibility to maintain the peace that has been part and parcel of NI since then.... they will be answerable if peace is destroyed

 

[SpookyFrank]

MPs and peers criticise tight security around Brexit impact reports

Most closely guarded blank flash drive in the western world.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Joining the EFTA court, so presumably joining EEA. Unless I'm getting my onion like layers of EU bureaucracy confused!

EEA = EU + EFTA I think. EFTA membership might require us to stick with those pesky 'human rights' Theresa May is so rabidly opposed to.

 

[Pickman's model]

Most closely guarded blank flash drive in the western world.

It'll be found on the trans-pennine express between Doncaster and Scunthorpe

 

[SpookyFrank]

OK so the EEA is EU + EFTA - Switzerland because nothing can just be simple can it? Note all the current EFTA countries are within the Schengen area.

 

[Pickman's model]

EEA = EU + EFTA I think. EFTA membership might require us to stick with those pesky 'human rights' Theresa May is so rabidly opposed to.

The Council of Europe ones you mean?