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I don’t entirely agree, especially when the negotiation process changes mid-negotiation. The change to unanimity to open and close every Acquis chapter instead commencing and concluding negotiations as a whole.

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Constantly negotiating to improve said relationships. If the EU were content with its relationship with the UK, why negotiate to improve it, especially with regards to contentious issues like mobility?

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They aren’t compartmentalised, though. If you’re trying to assert that the EU is, in the context of a British accession scenario, the reliable partner, the EU’s reliability and predictability on enlargement is relevant.

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“Legitimate concerns” … oh do give that bullshit a rest.

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I also don’t agree with the underlying assumption that the EU is content with the status quo. It clearly isn’t or we wouldn’t be haggling over youth mobility visa caps, tuition fees, or negotiating to re-integrate the UK into the EU’s ETS, IEM, and SPS Acquis.

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On accession and the EU’s track record, I’d be hesitant to accuse others of being inconsistent, unreliable, and problematic. Need you be reminded of Greece and N Macedonia, or Bulgaria and N Macedonia, or the changes in process that go beyond the Treaty processes(unanimity requirement)?

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 14h

I’m not contesting that the onus is on the UK to decide if it wants to join or not. I’m taking issue with the suggestion that the EU has no interest in that decision or would be indifferent to it.

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The high-and-mighty mentality from some - that the EU is perfectly fine with the status quo, that what it would want in an accession scenario is irrelevant etc - is just wrong.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 14h

Of course not at any cost. However, the point that the EU is content with the status quo does not seem to be accurate. No-one is happy with the current arrangement.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 15h

Makes you wonder if they've done the same vis-à-vis the Euro and Schengen

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Also the assertion that the EU is fine with the status quo doesn’t quite fit with the reality. If the EU were content, why negotiate? The status quo - with the UK outside of EU security structures - doesn’t suit the EU in the current climate.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

It doesn’t change the original point being made, though. Nor does he posit the second question and suggests the second point isn’t relevant.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

The EU doesn’t need to do so much/ anything given the previous opt-out remains attached to the Treaties.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Does the EU not have a say nor opinion in who applies, the subsequent negotiations, and in the terms thereof?

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

The precedent point is somewhat interesting, notwithstanding that a British accession attempt would be be suis generis both for its previous membership and the dormant opt-outs still enshrined in the Treaties.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

So … no, you can’t. Because the WA didn’t amend the Treaties.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Tbf I do buy loose fruit by weight

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Burnham has, to his credit, started that discussion yesterday vis-à-vis free movement. That hasn’t happened before.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Also no, the discussion hasn’t been going on. The public have reached the decision that Brexit has been a mistake and that, in general terms, they would like the UK to be a member. That’s not a discussion when relating to the rights and responsibilities of membership.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Point to the article or clause that repeals the relevant protocols.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Sure, and it needed a PM to pull the trigger, which Burnham has done

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Arguably, his decision to start the discussion is getting ahead of the public (in a way), and the line reads more of a “I’m not going to call a referendum tomorrow or be gung-ho pro-Euro”

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

No, the withdrawal agreement did not amend the Treaties, where the Protocols giving affect to the UK’s opt-outs remain attached.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

… which are still attached to the Treaties and would carry legal weight if/ when the UK joins again.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

The Treaties which *still* contain the protocols affecting the UK’s opt-outs. The Treaties ceasing to apply to the UK didn’t amend them nor remove the relevant protocols.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

The protocols giving affect to the British opt-outs of the euro and Schengen remain attached to the Treaties.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

@jonnelledge.bsky.social but I thought only the UK was the transactional and problematic member-state

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Amending or repealing those acts should command the broadest possible consensus, which the current structures don’t adequately reflect.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Again, *constitutionally-significant* matters, which Professor Robert Blackburn posits are the Parliament Acts, Representation of the People Acts, European Communities Act (read as any future accession treaty), Human Rights Act, and the Devolution Acts.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Eh not when a majority of English, Welsh, and Scottish MPs vote against them A joints sitting of the Lords and Commons constitutional affairs committees could be the arbiter of what is constitutionally relevant to avoid such creep

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Not a super-majority, a qualified majority. Eg, a majority of MPs representing a majority of the constituent nations voting in favour for *constitutional* change

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Because a) it would kibosh any attempt at a Reform/ Tory govt unilaterally pulling out of the ECHR, and b) it would satisfy concerns in Brussels about a future govt hypothetically leaving again

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Sure, but much like with Biden it’s unlikely that whoever follows Trump will be an Atlanticist. They may try to repair the relationship with Europe, but I doubt they’ll try for a return to the status quo ante 2016.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Friends don’t let Richard Murphy anywhere near a megaphone or column

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

So sayeth one of the most objectionable figures of the later years of Tory government whose name is only a few letters off being an accurate descriptor of him and his party.

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

On the one hand, yes. However, if he returns under the rock from whence he came and is replaced by someone as objectionable as Jenerick, their campaign would be screwed from the off

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

The NS interviews him not that long ago. He seems reasonable enough, y like the super girl person and Femi

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Reforming how votes on constitutional matters in Parliament would address it. Instead of a simple majority, some sort of qualified majority could be required

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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

Steve Bray’s retired, thankfully

Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 26/10/2026

“Do you agree to the proposed Accession Treaty, yes or no” would be reasonable