UK govt claims it wants an EU "deal", with a few weeks left. So, the Foreign Sec compares the EU to a Soviet prison, dashing hopes that the insults of his predecessor will now be replaced by moderation and alienating EU members UK badly needs on side. /1 theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/o… Today, the Prime Minister doubles down by trying to focus attention on the new post-Brexit migration policy. In doing so, she proudly announces on #r4today that free movement will end. This alone is being blind to the fact that it means no more movt for Brits (if they care?) /2

Following the sending of the Article 50 revocation case from the Court of Session in Scotland to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU or ECJ) in Luxembourg, there seems to be some confusion over what the Court is and does. So a reminder of the law on this would be worthwhile. /1 First, the 'law' here means the Treaties (Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Treaty on the Functioning on the EU (TFEU)). These are the highest source of EU law and the signatories are the Member States. So, if something is in the Treaties, the MS must want it there. /2

Absolutely right that @UniversitiesUK and @UUKIntl should put pressure on govt to change visa requirements for overseas students. For the last 15 years my academic role has included recruiting students from overseas. Here are a few of my thoughts. /1 bbc.co.uk/news/education… Most of the attention in this debate is the money that overseas students inject into the national, and local, economies. That is only part of the story. UK Universities have a proud tradition of being international - it is not just about the money. /2

Imagine for a moment that you are trying to explain UK politics and Brexit to a visitor who has no experience of either. /1

https://twitter.com/leonardocarella/status/1036405435333533696

First, you have a referendum which was promised by a party who won an election. Fine. But there is no planning for one outcome of the election, despite the same government having had a recent close call with another referendum (Indyref) showing how close they can be. /2

Barnier speaks a lot of sense here, and it gets to the heart of the oft-heard argument in the UK of "we want trade but nothing else". /1 theguardian.com/politics/2018/… For those making the "trade and nothing else argument", trade is generally understood to mean trade in goods. Which is paradoxical, given the importance of services for the UK economy. /2

This is basically just a statement of what we know about #NoDealBrexit. Only in the last two paragraphs so we get anything about Labour’s vision. /1 theguardian.com/commentisfree/… And despite the criticism of the Tory approach, there is precious little new or inspiring of confidence here. /2

What does #NoDealBrexit mean for #Erasmus? We already knew that the UK govt was going to fund successful bids before 2020 and has encouraged UK institutions to apply. But there are still things to note in the technical notice on Erasmus /1 gov.uk/government/pub… Erasmus is fundamentally about mobility, there is a big question mark over the conditions of how people move UK-EU and EU-UK. The notice says: "The govt will need to reach agreement with the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+" /2

This is an important piece. Much of the debate (such as it is) has focussed on whether EU citizens can "stay" in the UK (and vice versa). But that misses the point. /1 politics.co.uk/comment-analys… via @politics_co_uk I don't think there is much doubt that the UK government would not start to deport EU27 citizens en masse after 29 March. This is not what causes the anxiety though. The focus has been on "allowed to stay" - but what does that mean? /2

Spending a few days out of the UK, I've been reflecting on what it means to be a UK academic specialising in EU law over these past two years. This is a short personal reflection, which other scholars of the EU may or may not agree with. /1 First, the extent to which the law of the Member States and the EU have intertwined over many years (40+ in the case of the UK) has made me deeply suspicious of anyone who claims in general terms that problems can be easily "sorted". /2

It seems like the Telegraph has completely lost the plot with this story. But, as it cites the Treaty, lets have a look at what this means and what the legal consequences might be. /1

https://twitter.com/JohnOBrennan2/status/1026213619309203456

Article 8 TEU says: "1.The Union shall develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation." /2

Many critical comments about this piece and how it misreads the EU position, and misunderstands the EU itself. My problem with it (which speaks to both these criticisms) is this.. /1 theguardian.com/commentisfree/… There is a total absence of the mention of LAW in the piece. This matters, because the EU is much more than a political construct. It is a rules-based organisation. /2

I appreciate the desire of pro-remain MPs to seek consensus (since consensus is a necessary feature of any decision-making) but I'm afraid I find aspects of the argument being made here by @NickyMorgan01 problematic. /1 theguardian.com/commentisfree/… First, to call this an 'evolutionary turn' is misleading. All that has happened is that the Cabinet has agreed a position amongst itself as a basis for discussion with the EU. /2

After a week visiting #Delhi and #Mumbai in #India and talking to people in Universities, thinktanks, business and international trade about #Brexit, a short thread summarising what I heard. /1 The EU is seen primarily as a free trade bloc, and a successful one. Therefore, for the UK to leave in order to pursue 'free trade' is seen as somewhat baffling. /2

As #BrexitNegotiations begin, my thoughts on how it will play out: UK govt will attempt to keep lid on discussions (unsuccessfully) /1 EU side will stick to agreed guidelines and will insist on resolution of citizens' rights (nothing less than they have at the mo) and NI /2