Hello and welcome to EURACTIV’s EU Tweets of the Week!
Macron, Scholz and Draghi in last minute Ukraine dash, UK plans to chuck Northern Ireland protocol in the
trash, and Von der Leyen agrees to inject Poland with cash.
This week it was boys on tour!
As Macron, Scholz and Draghi headed to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky after taking the
night train from Poland.
Beyond the symbolic nature of the trip, one Ukrainian official says the discussion will
focus on war effort and EU candidacy for Ukraine which Kyiv considers top foreign policy priority
and a form of deterrence against Russia in the future.
Although Jakub Krupa pointed out they were some three months after several other European
leaders...
DG Meme put the delay down to “Bloody German Railways”.
Georgi Gotev reckoned they were trying to channel the three wise men: Balthazar, Melchior
and Gaspar.
They might fall a bit short of the Biblical mark, but as Teresa Coratella said, can you
imagine this trip with Conte and Le Pen instead?
There's always that Italian guy on the night train who just wants to chat chat chat even
when you just want to go to sleep joked Stanley Pignal.
Elsewhere, instead of building bridges, Boris Johnson seemed hell bent on burning them announcing
a bill that would tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed by… checks notes...
Boris Johnson as part of the Brexit deal…
signed by…
Boris Johnson.
Adam Bienkov said the British PM is justifying breaking his Brexit deal with the EU on the
'doctrine of necessity' which allows states to break international law if they face "grave
and imminent peril".
He’s not convinced this applies to the peril of needing forms to move sausages from Great Britain
to Northern Ireland.
Me neither Adam!
Parody Boris account said “It is of course my career that is in 'grave and imminent peril'
and which justifies breaking international law. Apparently.
The reaction in Brussels was, how shall I put this? Not good.
And went far beyond Berlaymonster’s fantasy headline
EU TO INCLUDE CHANGING BLUE COVER TO BURGUNDY in LASHBACK OVER PROTOCOL
Liz Truss Sells Northern Ireland To Putin In Bid To ‘Fix The Problem Once And For
All’ snarked Le Chou News
On Wednesday Jorge Liboreiro reported that Brussels will consider freezing the EU-UK
trade deal if London goes ahead with its draft bill to override the Northern Ireland Protocol.
"I cannot exclude anything," said Maros Sefcovic.
"All options have to be on the table."
And true to his word, the European Commission relaunched infringement procedures against
UK plus new procedures in response to move to override the #NorthernIreland protocol
“Let's call a spade a spade: this is illegal” said Sefcovic.
Brexit.
The gift that just keeps on giving.
Oh and while we’re on the subject of the uncontrollable shopping trolley, his ethics
advisor resigned yesterday – that’s the second in 2 years.
Finally this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in the spotlight again overv the decision to give
Warsaw the green light to Poland's €35.4 billion recovery and resilience plan.
Poland no longer resists OECD
minimum tax deal — but in a fresh move, Hungary does, reported Marton Dunai.
⁦
Orban realised: If Poland gets 36 billion for dropping its veto, he can get money as
well, reckoned Green MEP Daniel Freund.
Adding, We have to stop this blackmailing!
We have to get rid of national vetoes!
The Netherlands won’t support the Council decision approving the Polish recovery plan
on Friday, as they’re unhappy with milestones said Alberto Alemanno.
But as Johannes Jänicke pointed out, they will abstain... which helps no one.
Poland’s Prime Minister Now Just Shoots Judges, As EU Rule Of Law Threats Prove To
Be Empty tweeted Le Chou.
Parody?
What parody?
That’s it for this week, join me again next Friday for more snarks and larks in the Brussels
Bubble Twittersphere.