Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #EEA
Most recents (5)
I want to talk a minute about how #Brexit is viewed by most of the #Dutch here in the #Netherlands.
1/
1/
The #Dutch are mostly bewildered by #Brexit and why anyone would want to leave.
We do have a small EU critical faction in parliament (PVV+FvD=32 seats out of 150), but 4/5ths of the electorate are either uncaring or moderately to rabidly pro EU.
home.noties.nl/peil/
2/
We do have a small EU critical faction in parliament (PVV+FvD=32 seats out of 150), but 4/5ths of the electorate are either uncaring or moderately to rabidly pro EU.
home.noties.nl/peil/
2/
Our #economy stands to take quite a hit from Brexit. Up to a few percent, even.
economics.rabobank.com/publications/2… …
This is seen as a betrayal by most #Dutch, who take the
health of our economy very seriously, especially after supporting Britain's liberal ideas in the #EU
3/
economics.rabobank.com/publications/2… …
This is seen as a betrayal by most #Dutch, who take the
health of our economy very seriously, especially after supporting Britain's liberal ideas in the #EU
3/
(1/7) If #EEA & #EFTA were the ‘worst of both worlds’ they’re often portrayed as, why would 4 successful countries stay in them, despite the opportunity to leave or join the EU? Some quick myth busting:
(2/7) 1. EFTA countries take only 20-30% of EU legislation, excluding most contentious areas like Common Agricultural Policy, and Justice & Home Affairs 2. EU legislation that EFTA does take on primarily concerns standardisation necessary for a single market.
(3/7) The vast majority of this legislation is written by expert bodies, not MEPs, which EFTA countries have just as much input into as EU countries. Similar to what would happen in a trade deal 3. EFTA countries pay less to the EU, and have more control of it.
1/11 It now seems there are only two ways to interpret May’s #Brexit strategy.
The first is the Optimistic assumption that she still thinks (logically if not emotionally) ‘Remain’ was the only rational choice when Leave offered no coherent choice.
The first is the Optimistic assumption that she still thinks (logically if not emotionally) ‘Remain’ was the only rational choice when Leave offered no coherent choice.
2/11 Her long forgotten but excellent speech on why she would vote Remain is still our best guide to that line of thinking. conservativehome.com/parliament/201…
3/11 If so, we can take at face value her apparent aim to manoeuvre towards the softest #Brexit possible.
She will deliver a ‘political’ Brexit but not an ‘economic’ one.
Our loss of political influence is just the (heavy) price we have to pay.
She will deliver a ‘political’ Brexit but not an ‘economic’ one.
Our loss of political influence is just the (heavy) price we have to pay.
1/ Our front bench's amendment pre-supposes that we'll be able to negotiate and create new and bespoke forms of 'access to the Single Market' and 'shared institutions'. But we simply don't have the time or leverage to do that: we have to pick a model. 
2/ It makes no mention of free movement of labour, whereas articles 112 and 113 of the EEA Agreement provide a solid, treaty-based mechanism for reforming FoM.
3/ Far more likely that the pragmatic Tory MPs will back an amendment that's come from the back-benches, so the Lords amendment is the only one that has a chance of commanding a parliamentary majority. Our last chance to legislate against the govt's recklessness & incompetence.
So, I decided that I'm going to tweet an interesting fact or observation about life in Norway every day, because my head is full of them:
#1: Norwegians eat their sandwiches like this, with no bread on top
They have special paper to stop toppings falling off when carried around
They have special paper to stop toppings falling off when carried around
#2: Norway is a relatively young country, only achieving true independence in 1905. This is why Norwegians tend to be deeply patriotic.
