Non - Brexit

Tusk, for good reasons or bad, is right. There is not enough time in the short extension to do any other good apart from ratify May's deal or to decide after all to No-Deal it. Since the only thing Parliament has been clear on so far is that it doesn't want No Deal, that leaves May's deal. Those are May's words and his. They are both effectively banging the same drum.

True, in that eight days is not enough time to negotiate a new agreement

May's deal has been sunk twice now. It gives to many concessions to the EU for the leavers to stomach and doesn't give a customs union to placate the remainers.

So, it's May's deal or no deal, eh?

Or why not simply revoke article 50 and start again?
 
I guess that 0.00001% of the members on this site, subscribe to the FT website.
Al, that assumes there are 100,000 people on here (to get that one FT account).
I know we have a lot of JCL's (and I guess I'm one) but that's a lot of full stadiums..

Yours, Pedantic from Wimborne..
 
NO.

The role of the President is set out in article 15 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU). In particular, the President of the European Council is responsible for:
  • chairing European Council meetings and driving forward its work
  • ensuring the preparation of European Council meetings and the continuity of their work, in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council configuration
  • helping to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council
  • presenting a report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting
The President of the European Council also ensures the external representation of the EU at the level of heads of state or government:
  • on issues related to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), alongside the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy who helps put into effect the CFSP and ensure its unity, consistency and effectiveness
  • at international summits, usually alongside the President of the European Commission
It's all there, if you look.

Donald Tusk does not have a mandate to negotiate on behalf of or speak for the member states, let alone cajole or interfere with any member states' parliament.

Oh and don't forget, Britain is a member of the EU too!

PS. Regarding the text in bold red. Donald Tusk has not negotiated anything at all to do with the conditions for Brexit. This is the job of the Commision, NOT the Council.

Does anyone actually bother to find out how the EU functions? If the EU is so wonderful and great, why do so few people take the trouble to understand who does what, how, why and when?

Article 50
Para 2 -A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the European Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, ....... That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

Para 4 -For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, the member of the European Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the European Council or Council or in decisions concerning it.

Art 218 Treaty on the Functioning of the EU
2. The Council shall authorise the opening of negotiations, adopt negotiating directives, authorise the signing of agreements and conclude them.

3. The Commission, or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy where the agreement envisaged relates exclusively or principally to the common foreign and security policy, shall submit recommendations to the Council, which shall adopt a decision authorising the opening of negotiations and, depending on the subject of the agreement envisaged, nominating the Union negotiator or the head of the Union's negotiating team. (In this case Michelle Barnier)

4. The Council may address directives to the negotiator and designate a special committee in consultation with which the negotiations must be conducted.

5. The Council, on a proposal by the negotiator, shall adopt a decision authorising the signing of the agreement and, if necessary, its provisional application before entry into force.

6. The Council, on a proposal by the negotiator, shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement.

Except where agreements relate exclusively to the common foreign and security policy, the Council shall adopt the decision concluding the agreement:

(a) after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament in the following cases:

(iv) agreements with important budgetary implications for the Union;

+

Tusk, as head of the Council, is talking obo the 27 members, in line with their negotiating aims/methods already agreed 3 yrs ago, and in line with the law relating to leaving. He wont be saying anything not agreed by the heads of states of the 27 members, having been updated by the negotiator.

By triggering Art 50, we are not a full participating member anymore.

Commission probably did make recommendations 3 years ago but as this is beyond only 'common foreign and security policy', legally they are not required.

Its the EU parliament i worry about allowing anything and having to vote as it would fall into the 'budgetary implications for the Union' remit.
 
If Donald Tusk was trying to "influence" the UK parliament he would something like;

"Don't you think it would be better if .... ?
""Why not consider .... ?
or even,
"In my opinion, you might ...

But, no.

Donald Tusk's exact words were:

“In the light of the consultations that I have conducted over the past days I believe that a short extension will be possible but to be conditional on a positive vote on the withdrawal agreement in the House of Commons,”

The word "conditional" is a rather large clue, isn't it?

He means, you either do as I say, or ...

As this has degenerated into a debate over semantics, let me make it absolutely clear what Donald Tusk said.

The UK will only get an extension if Parliament votes for a deal.

Interference, abso-jolly-lutely. Other words such as, coercion, manipulation are not entirely out of place, are they?
I think its called a negotiating position, as the EU are entirely within their remit to do. It's exactly the same as May is doing here.

And I don't believe that you know for definite that Tusk is going it alone.
 
Interesting that you can’t get on to vote. There’s a thing.
Probably because you and others are sat on the website mashing F5 excited to watch the number climb, stressing out the webservers causing a load issue, ironically preventing people who haven't signed it from doing so.
 
Don't blame me. I didn't write those treaties!

... and to quote the PM, “I am on your side”

There are multiple sides playing in the Brexit game, some sides have factions within the sides.

Which side is your/our, the PM seems to be trying for the people and May v the peoples elected representatives.
 
I think its called a negotiating position, as the EU are entirely within their remit to do. It's exactly the same as May is doing here.

And I don't believe that you know for definite that Tusk is going it alone.

This is not the EU. It is one official.

And, f the nth time, I never once said that or implied that Tusk was 'going it alone.'

But Tusk does not have specific backing of all the other 27 heads of state for his statement yesterday. Or do you know for sure that he has?
 
No worries. I just wanted you to know that I am on your side!

Honestly the most terrible speach I can remember. I'm not one to call for the head of a politician lightly but to try and deliberately drive a wedge between the people and their representatives at this juncture is completely irresponsible. Not to mention the creepiness of her slogan.

She has to go.
 
Honestly the most terrible speach I can remember. I'm not one to call for the head of a politician lightly but to try and deliberately drive a wedge between the people and their representatives at this juncture is completely irresponsible. Not to mention the creepiness of her slogan.

She has to go.

I suspect that she has lost the confidence of the dressing room (and most of the spectators). But some of the alternatives are decidedly worse.
 
This is not the EU. It is one official.

And, f the nth time, I never once said that or implied that Tusk was 'going it alone.'

But Tusk does not have specific backing of all the other 27 heads of state for his statement yesterday. Or do you know for sure that he has?
No I don't but you're the one making the statements, so explain how you know these things.
 
This is not the EU. It is one official.

And, f the nth time, I never once said that or implied that Tusk was 'going it alone.'

But Tusk does not have specific backing of all the other 27 heads of state for his statement yesterday. Or do you know for sure that he has?

He is the head of the Council and therefore their mouthpiece. Since Jun 16 the Council have presented a united front and I have not heard or read of any fractures. They have been consistent. Going by that record, and in answer to your question, I reckon he did have backing of the 27 for the statement he lawfully made yesterday.
 

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