@johanbeerts.bsky.social
EU and Albania 🇦🇱 agree fourth chapter (out of 33) in accession talks www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
Enlargement: Albania and EU provisionally close negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy
The EU and Albania provisionally closedaccession negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy (chapter 20).
consilium.europa.eu
I don't think anything has changed in UK's attitude to EU. In fact this whole thread is not about EU at all, it is about internal UK politics AGAIN. If someone in the EU points out that this is not how the EU works or not the kind of EU member we need, we are "the enemy".
It's also the height of conceit to say, effectively, "Schengen and the euro may be good enough for you lot, but not for us".
Britain is reopening the question of Europe. This time, we need an honest debate before choosing again | Anna Damski
Joining Europe again: first, we need durable consent
Britain is reopening the question of Europe. This time, we need an honest debate before choosing again
eastangliabylines.co.uk
🚨🚨 #Trump's message to #Ukraine is now clear. The president's action over the last 72 hours look like an effort to force Kyiv to surrender. Clear-sighted take by @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu on #trump's betrayal of #ukraine's fight to protect their independence. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/1...
Trump’s Message to Ukraine Is Now Crystal Clear
The president’s actions over the past 72 hours look like an effort to force Kyiv to surrender.
theatlantic.com
Here we go again. Candidate countries can negotiate [...] opt-outs to Schengen etc." They don't like our finest achievements, and the first thing they think about is opting out. And again the bragging about "our economy". Didn't keep the EEC from making the UK beg for membership three times.
Kevin Mc@kevinmac27.bsky.social · yesterdayCandidate countries can negotiate varied transition periods, and opt-outs to Schengen etc. You may think that there is nothing to negotiate, but I am sure that different matters of leverage would arise between introducing a $30bn GDP economy, and a $4,200bn economy. How is Albania "more deserving"?
I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced.
Germany and the other Northern austerity frugals say the EU budget is "bloated". Here's how that "bloated" 🇪🇺budget compares: Federations: 🇪🇺: 1% of GDP 🇩🇪: 12% 🇺🇸: 24% Unitary states: 🇳🇱: 46% 🇫🇷: 57%
Northern leaders want to cut an EU budget already on a shoestring
EU national leaders keep saying they want a union that “does more.” Then they show up in Brussels asking it to spend less.
davekeating.substack.com
BBC news demanding to see evidence that Russia interfered in Brexit. The same news corporation that has promoted evidence-free 'Israel says' claims as factual and spent the past year pretending Israel has ceased-firing in Gaza. Wikipedia's a more credible news source.
Boris Johnson endorsed Trump's re-election specifically on the basis that he wouldn't "ditch the Ukrainians". Now he wants praise for saying Trump has ditched the Ukrainians. Ukraine deserves much smarter friends than Johnson.
I was today's old when I learned that BfB is a "pro-Brussels group". When did this happen? BfB is neither pro-Brussels nor pro-EU. They never espoused or espouse a pov that defends European interests. They only defend their own perspective of 🇬🇧 back in 🇪🇺 with special treatment and opt-outs. 🤮
In the current international climate dominated by characters such as Trump, Xi or Putin who want to destroy the liberal democracy, it is mind blowing @economist.com has joined them in kicking non stop the key institutions of liberal democracy. It’s a big failure.
It’s so easy to destroy. But it is so difficult to build. The EU is the best example in human history of an institution gathering dozens of countries to work and peace, dismantle borders and bring prosperity. The EU model should be cherished, embraced and extended.
Barbarism. Pure and undiluted. Europe cannot remain silence and pretend this falls within the “shared values”. If any other country did this, the EU would issue a public condemnation.
The Associated Press@apnews.com · 5d agoBREAKING: The Pentagon says it will livestream the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan.
🚨🚨 My scattered thoughts on this: Yes, #brexit was exactly this, absolute crap (financially, socially politically and in all thinkable ways) and the Johnson-hammered #hardbrexit EU-UK TCA deal is obviously not working for the UK (surprise: works quite well for the EU).
Alex Andreou@sturdyalex.bsky.social · 6d ago"Does the UK want to reopen the bitter Brexit debate?" asks Vicki Young. There is a way of reviewing our relationship with Europe that does not reopen "the bitter Brexit debate", which I think is underpriced. We could all be honest and agree that Brexit was a shit idea.
If you can't make a good argument for one of Europe's best achievements then you should just give up because, frankly what is the point? All this was talked about, understood and voted for in the 1970s but now the UK is stuck with the exceptionalists in England. 🙄 bsky.app/profile/stua...
Stuart Budd@stuartbudd.bsky.social · 2w agoActually, the 1970s referendum included a vote on a single currency and the percentage was 67% "The member countries now have ambitous plans for the creation of a common currency"
UK, vacillating for years between ambivalence, blocking & hostility to the European Project, showed its collective arse to all of Europe, live-streamed to a global audience. I don't think UKinUK have ever grasped how damaged their reputation now is. 'Leading'? Is UK allergic to working AS EQUALS?
This is the second of two pieces exploring the options for Britain’s future relationship with the EU by former European Parliamentary Labour Party leader Richard Corbett labourlist.org/2026/10/imag...
'Imaginary and real obstacles to Britain resuming its membership of the EU' - LabourList
Former EPLP leader Richard Corbett looks at the myths and real objects that arise in any conversation about rejoining the EU.
labourlist.org
Here we go again. And opt-out from the euro, Schengen can be ignored and then we can welcome our British friends who do not believe in European integration back. All we have to do is bend the rules so our British friends can join the club once more while rejecting even our finest achievements.
South-East London for Europe (Selfe)@selfe.bsky.social · last wk.The door is open, We must walk through, #RejoinEU #JoinEU
Well thanks for that feedback *EU source* - "yes we all say we support the UK returning, but if you think you're getting a single opt-out of anything, forget it..."
i dont want to download an app i don't want a qr code menu i dont want to talk to an ai assistant i dont want ai summaries for my searches i dont want to optimize my workflow i dont want to jump on a call i dont want to rate anything i don't want to create an account LEAVEME ADLONEe
Amazingly, Brits still talk about "negotiations". There are no negotiations to enter the EU. There are only countries found to meet membership conditions, as confirmed by the EC and approved by all MS. Conditions are set in 35 acquis chapters, progress of alignment with monitored by the EC annually.
So the FT headline misses the point. Maybe it's about time they realised Europe does not revolve around the UK, let alone what the latter might, possibly, be doing at an unspecified time in the future.
Judging by how UK is threatening the EU, how people like you demand EU countries dismantle the basics of their cooperation so you can stay in your Spanish second homes more conveniently and how you constantly believe it's all about you, you are getting much more respect than you deserve.
If you don't want Schengen and don't want the Euro: Just stay out please. No need for a half-in, half-out UK.
What negotiations? The aquis is the acquis. The UK decides if it wants to adopt it all or not and applies or doesn’t. The EU can decide on what the UK needs to do to qualify. And it’s not ‘less favourable’ to, e.g., join the euro or Schengen, it’s the point. If you don’t want it, don’t join the EU.
So do it on the same terms as other members. The lost opt-outs are something to beat all Brexiters with until the day they die. To be fair, Schengen, Freedom of Movement, the Euro, all brilliant things. Nothing to be afraid of.
The UK exceptionalists want to pick apart the very organization it wants to join. Farage does less damage to the EU with his position.
