So, what to make of today?
1/
1/
Over the weekend, lots of +ve optics and warm words, to get mvt from the conference-season slump
But lots of reining in during the day
2/
But lots of reining in during the day
2/
Partly, it's sensible expectation mgt: one might have had the impression that suddenly everything was hunky-dory and the work of a moment
3/
3/
Despite some mvt at back end of last week on non-IE issues (as per @simoncoveney's 90% comments), there's still more than enough to occupy minds for some time yet
4/
4/
Much as everyone loves playing Negotiation Rollercoaster, it's less stressful (and less likely to result in missteps/mistakes) if things are kept a bit lower-key
5/
5/
Partly, it's mgt of domestic audiences (esp in UK).
It's well and good to be shot of #CFC18, but May is facing end of recess, so CON pressure will continue in coming days/weeks
6/
It's well and good to be shot of #CFC18, but May is facing end of recess, so CON pressure will continue in coming days/weeks
6/
If we assume part of her strategy is to leave things to relatively late, so alternatives can't gain traction, then rushing to a WA deal now isn't helpful
7/
7/
Also need to note that EU isn't all in lock-step on PD (esp France), so incentives for UK & COM to play for 'progress' for Oct #EUCO, to allow for Nov final bargain, manoeuvring 'colleagues' on-side as they go
8/
8/
Finally, it's partly about managing the little flurry of solutions on Irish dimension
9/
9/
As @hayward_katy can/has pointed out, these aren't necessarily new or technically viable, but as political ground is moving into end-game, calculations of what might be on the table are changing too
10/
10/
EU still needs to protect backstop, UK still needs to win something to get past Parliament, but more willingness right now to try out some different ways of tackling things
11/
11/
Maybe main thing to take from all this is that this isn't really about running before you can walk, since even walking as been a struggle in Art.50
Instead, it's a reflection of the tendency to leave hard choices to crunch points
12/
Instead, it's a reflection of the tendency to leave hard choices to crunch points
12/
In that sense, it's like last Nov/Dec (with Jt Rpt), but much more involved
Which might also suggest it'll not go smoothly
/end
Which might also suggest it'll not go smoothly
/end
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