DEXEU finally published some position papers this week. You can see them HERE. They are on judicial and administrative proceedings, nuclear materials and safeguards and privileges and immunities. These were apparently published ahead of the next scheduled meeting next week on the 17th July. On first reading they seem very vague and there is a lot of talk of more discussions being needed. They read more like agendas for internal meetings than position papers and published too close the meeting to be of any real use.
So, it came as no surprise that a Swedish minister (HERE) has said, “We really need to get concrete negotiating positions from the UK. We got three more responses today, but they need to have more detail”. The frustration on the part of the EU is almost palpable with M Barnier making a speech (HERE) where he spoke of his frustration that the EU had issued nine position papers since the end of April, but the UK had only responded to one – the proposal on EU citizens and says:
"The EU positions are clear. We now need to know the UK's position on each of these issues in order to make progress. We need to know on which points we agree, and on which points we disagree, so that we can negotiate in earnest. My aim is to make good progress next week and at our next session in August on all issues. We cannot remain idle as the clock is ticking".
It all looks as if we do not even realise the seriousness of the position we are in. We have apparently no plan - even after a year of thinking about it - and we cannot produce detailed papers or respond to the ones the EU have painstakingly written. Meanwhile the clock is ticking and we have lost four months of the two year period already. This is pathetic and utterly shaming on us.
UPDATE: InFacts has published an item (HERE) about these position papers and has the same opinion as me. They say - while the papers point out issues to be resolved, they do little in terms of suggesting solutions. This is true and they note the metadata on the paper covering privileges and immunities was edited at 7:20 am on the morning of publication!!
