What were they thinking?

Hi All,

You know the EU has gone mental even an economically and socially  liberal,immigration advocating  - although neutral in the referendum- think tank disagrees with the EU's latest "negotiations" regarding the Northern Irish border question. 

For as the open Europe comments :

Open Europe’s Stephen Booth writes that the UK Government could not possibly agree to this EU withdrawal text, which would effectively cede sovereignty over Northern Ireland to Brussels by default. The EU cannot simply disregard inconvenient political commitments agreed – by both sides – in December. Brussels now risks creating a serious political mess.

Theresa May also correctly said that no British government could sign up to this de facto annexation attempt on British territorial sovereignty.

There's a few takeaways from this article  :

1) Quote :Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged Sinn Fein to take their seats in Parliament for the first time in order “to make things better for Ireland.”  So. Foreign head of a foreign  government is overtly trying to interfere in the territorial and legal makeup of the UK, even as Ireland is the UK's biggest export market.

2). The EU proposal is cherry picking of the highest order.  Firstly this text would only apply to Northern Ireland, not the rest of the UK. Second it means Northern Ireland staying in the customs union and this is the BIG EU cherry pick , some but not all parts of the single market, under a "common regulatory area". So in effect this implies a form of (not necessarily a good one) of bespoke agreement and cherry picking. This is something which the EU  has constantly said that the UK cannot have. Clearly though this argument is political and not legal , because the EU itself is now cherry picking when it wants to do so.

Incidentally there was a lot less reporting on May on regards to the rights of EU citizens during the transition. But again the EU is cheery picking because they are only granting British citizens rights in the countries they live in a present , rather than the FULL rights Britain is giving. Thus it is one sided cherry picking by the EU.

3). We can see just from 1 and 2 , the problems here are not legal, economic,  trade or cherry picking. They are inherently political. The EU Commission , being the head of the Mafia like protection racket that is the EU is 

A). Trying to look after the Republic of Ireland, without thinking about the complexity of Northern Ireland's internal political balance. However this is just a side show because the EU know it is the UK's weak spot. Which leads to point B.

B). The EU negotiating stance is not based on any good will or functionary interpretation of legal texts or treaties. It is inherently political and as noted before the EU wants to punish the UK as a warning to other states who would consider leaving. However they have gone from covert attempts at punishment to a full blown cat o nine tails. It isn't so much of a negotiated settlement, other than a drive by shooting. 

C). The border and trade can be settled in a comprehensive way and if compromise was the order of the day a mutually agreed fashion - this is political and boils down to politics. Unfortunately the EU's default position is to punish. This has even shock remain people and soft brexit people. It's an open goal for anyone who wants to keep Britain in the EU. Thanks chaps you've done us Brexiters a favour.

D) . Terrorism. Whatever the outcome ,a hard border does not and should not give legitimacy to terrorism. Respectable politicians should think twice before suggesting leaving the EU is an excuse to terrorists to take up arms. After all if it is good enough for IRA terrorists , then you are saying it would be good enough for - a hypothetical bunch of- English nationalist terrorists to start off if Brexit was reversed . We are a liberal democracy and not a banana republic , so let's keep it that way by respecting a democratic referendum and so do things by democratic peaceful means .