The level playing field
Interesting to see how Urusla von der Leyen Change has tack and almost pleaded for Britain to make an agreement.
It has finally dawned on the EU that the “level playing field” they want, is more like ownership of the field and anyone who plays on it, is forced to abide by EU rules.
They should know, as should anyone trying to negotiate an agreement, that what they offer must be at least acceptable to the opposition.
To date, all they offered was Unconditional Surrender which is what capitulating on the remaining 2 -5% of the deal remaining to be agreed amounts to. Agreeing to a “level playing field” as offered, would make the whole exercise null and void and leave Britain more subservient to EU law and regulation, than it was before Brexit ever began.
They appear to learn nothing however, Britain cannot and will not concede to subservience.
The EU is therefore very worried and so it should be.
Despite what all the pundits say, the EU will suffer greater loss of export than Britain; an almost 100 billion euro trade surplus favours the EU rather than Britain.
The greatest worry however is of Britain not failing economically; or, horror of horrors, matching or even surpassing EU success.
Success or even survival would become a beacon for disquiet in the EU leading to surge in demand to cede from the Union.
As regard an Irish border, the EU is far more likely to demand one to prevent uncontrollable smuggling from North to South that will flourish if nothing is done.
The great tragedy is that if handled positively and in friendly manner, a wavering Britain could have been persuaded to abandon Brexit altogether.
The EU however went in guns blazing and claiming Britain was subdued and would be an EU Colony in perpetuity. EU Negotiators did this on TV.
The EU only negotiating success was to galvanise wavering
British opinion from a possible no-Brexit to an 80 seat majority- gung-ho to Brexit at any cost.
Such a terrible pity; but then. when fools, including our own, rush in...
Yours faithfully,