Is Biden watching?

[DeppityDawg]

I was never a fan of Nigel Farage, but whats hes always said about the EU, the events of the last month or so have shown to be absolutely true. Its conduct during the final stages of the Brexit deal and now with the vaccination rollout shambles proves it. Its intractable, inward looking, protectionist and hopelessly bureaucratic. The last week or so has shown that when things don't go its way, its prepared to stick two fingers up and throw its own rule book out of the window

I've always had reservations about leaving, and I've said that many times. But the last month has shown that maybe I should have had greater reservations about staying in it. I don't think there is much doubt that even among hardcore EU member states, the juries about its conduct and even its very existence must now be well and truly out

[cromwell]

And now they're admitting they went ott,I suppose they realised a bit too late it wasn't a good look and WHO have stuck the boot in.

[Sheepy]

For once the EU got caught at using its self-created power over all things. They will deflect and deny, it is what they do.

[DeppityDawg]

It's quite astonishing to watch the EU now attempting to blame everyone else for its own monolithic ineptitude over the vaccine roll out.

I can't see how they can defend their position on this issue. They simply had to get primacy over their member states in agreeing a.deal with AZ (and others), and succeeded only in fecking it up by dealing a deal for 3 months.

Of course, I say "I can't see how". But as a betting man, I'd bet there are a couple of posters on here who will try and defend it. Then again, if the EU passed a law saying we all had to eat babies, they'd defend that too

[cromwell]

And how much have we been lectured since the referendum from home grown critics and abroad about British exceptionalism, rule makers and not rule takers,how the eu is benevolent and never acts in such a way as we?

Not fully left more than a month and here we see them in all their glory?

Where is Gerry, Javert and beebly to leap to the eu's defence?

[johnofgwent]

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-eu-withdraws-plans-to-control-exports-of-coronavirus-vaccines-into-northern-ireland-sources-12202835

If article 16 is invoked, can it be withdrawn just like that?

I guess so. And this seems to me moving at some pace, for now I see a few news pages updated in the last 30 min stating this. I guess Fleet Streets Speakeasy's have started to chuck out the drunks ...

[Barry]

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-eu-withdraws-plans-to-control-exports-of-coronavirus-vaccines-into-northern-ireland-sources-12202835

If article 16 is invoked, can it be withdrawn just like that?

[johnofgwent]

I presume you refer to the EU invoking Article 16 ...


Have they backed down ? The news programmes I watched this evening seemed to say the EU are still pushing their unilateral declaration.

[Barry]

After a bit of an outrage reaction, especially in Ireland, the EU have backed down.
Whoever made the initial decision should be sacked.

[Barry]

This appears to be a breach of international law in a very specific and limited way. 

It's really rather serious and shows that when there is any pressure on the EU they are prepared to thrown agreements out of the window.

[Nick]

The EU has been telling us for almost 5 years now that the GFA is paramount, so why have they just stuck a hard border in Ireland to stop Vaccine movements?

Well Jerry, what about your beloved EU now? they really don't give a flying fig about you do they?

Is the US going to send out a few sound bites in disapproval of the latest EU move?