Meanwhile, back on subject...
This was Michel Barnier's moment of revenge. A time to set the record straight.
“I said last week that I wanted to identify the points where we agree and the points where we disagree,” the EU’s negotiator continued. “This was possible this week for the issues on which there was a clear British position.” A half-smile crossed his face. This was his little joke. Because it soon became clear there were almost no issues on which he thought Britain had a clear position.
Still, he was a fair man and it was best to start with the positives. Such as they were. Britain had at least set out a few guidelines on the rights of EU citizens, though none that were in any way acceptable. There were “fundamental divergences”, especially in relation to the European court of justice. As for the financial settlement and Ireland, the situation was just a mess.
“A clarification of the UK position is essential, if we are to have any progress,” Barnier said. “As soon as the UK is ready to clarify its position, we will be prepared to have these discussions. This week’s negotiations have shown we make better progress when our respective positions are clear.” In other words, next time you come, do at least make an effort to have done a bit of homework beforehand because I could do without having my time wasted.
Barnier had spoken half in English and half in French and Davis had spent most of the time staring at the floor with his finger in his ear.
“Overall, I am encouraged by the progress we have made,” Davis began. Barnier appeared genuinely astonished by this. Either his opposite number hadn’t been paying attention or his advisers had been deliberately misinforming him.
Davis blundered on. “We have conducted this round constructively and at pace, and I hope this is a model we can continue going forward,” he said. At pace as in snail’s pace. “I came here saying that it was important that we now made progress. And this week, I think we have done just that.”
This wasn’t just news to Barnier. It was also news to everyone else in the room.
All goes according to plan then. Lull Johnnie Foreigner into believing we are completely inept, utterly unprepared for these hugely important negotiations.....then, BOOM!!... completely fuck them up, slink off with a rotten 'deal' (a la Cameron, pre-referendum) and claim complete victory while naturally denying the UK electorate the chance to reject the 'deal' out of hand.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... s-brussels