David Phinnemore

@dphinnemore.bsky.social

6.2K followers 260 following 610 posts

Professor of European Politics, Queen's University Belfast. EU politics, treaty reform, enlargement, Brexit/Protocol/Windsor Framework

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Political science 88%

Economics 4%

Posts Replies Media Videos

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 3d

Full report: www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2025/12...

Reposted by Steve Peers

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 3d

Some 53% of UK exporters told the [BCC] that the trade deal with Europe was unsatisfactory — a 13 percentage point increase from 2024.

“By contrast, just 16% of nearly 900 exporters surveyed in October said the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement… was working well.”
www.ft.com/content/b3d3...

UK exporters increasingly dissatisfied with EU trade terms, survey finds

More than half of those contacted by British Chambers of Commerce criticised the post Brexit arrangements

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 9d

Joint statement confirmed negotiations concluded on UK's association to Erasmus+ in 2027

Also shared aim to conclude negotiations on Youth Experience Scheme, common SPS Area and linking of ETS schemes by next [annual] EU-UK summit... although no date for this

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Steve Peers, David Phinnemore , and 2 more Richard S.J. Tol, Steve Peers, David Phinnemore, Jill Rutter, Nicolai von Ondarza

Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 9d

Let's go through the Eramus statement together

1/

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 10d

“[Unionist] criticism comes despite ministers in London hailing the move as a major step forward and local business bodies including the NI Chamber and Horticultural Trades Association welcoming the development”
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/bre...

Unionists hit out as Government accepts Windsor Framework review recommendations and business organisations hail ‘positive’ step

Unionist parties have criticised the Government’s decision to accept recommendations from a review into the Windsor Framework post-Brexit arrangements.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 10d

"agreement to rejoin Erasmus... expected to be announced on Wednesday

Also:

'Government sources... [PM] is pursuing an “iterative” process with the EU and that at the next annual reset summit, expected in the spring, there will be fresh issues on the table'

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme

Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say

www.theguardian.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 10d

Articles 5-10 of the Windsor Framework.

Only a simple majority of MLAs supported consent.

The absence of 'cross-community' consent triggered the review.

Democratic consent next needed in 2028.

More on the Democratic Consent vote and Lord Murphy's review 👇
bsky.app/profile/dphi...

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 24

On the Windsor Framework and the NI Assembly's 2024 Democratic Consent vote...

With @politicalquarterly.bsky.social

Open access via:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Reposted by Steve Peers

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 10d

UK Government response to Lord Murphy's Independent Review of the Windsor Framework published

All 16 recommendations accepted.

The Independent Review followed the NI Assembly's vote in December 2024 on granting 'Democratic Consent' to the continued application of...

www.gov.uk/government/p...

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 14d

“Any decision to admit a new member would have to be backed by all of the EU’s 27 national governments.”

And the European Parliament

And be ratified by each of the EU(27).

In France, default requirement is ratification by referendum

www.ft.com/content/e504...

Ukraine would join EU next year under draft peace plan

Move backed by Brussels would transform the bloc’s approach to admitting new members

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 14d

How has the UK managed the regulatory consequences of Brexit?

Delighted to see published with @bjpols.bsky.social latest article with my colleague Lisa Claire Whitten exploring the interaction with devolution and the Windsor Framework.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 15d

"rejoining the single market... cannot be sprung on the voters at the election. You have to spend the coming years making the case, perhaps preparing the European Commission and member states. Lest we forget, they have the actual say on this."

Drop the 'perhaps'.

www.ft.com/content/2d00...

A Brexit survival strategy that shows Starmer’s days are numbered

Labour will need a different leader if it pursues a policy of rejoining the EU customs union or single market

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 18d

“if you’ve just read all of [this] and have no clue what I’m talking about … you really shouldn’t be talking about customs unions.” - @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social

mostfavourednation.substack.com/p/customs-un...

Customs Union

What do you know? You know ...

mostfavourednation.substack.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 20d

“I would strongly contest whether rejoining the customs union would either be quick or straightforward,” one cabinet source said.’

Wise source

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘The only idea around’: will Labour return to a customs union with the EU?

The desperate search for economic growth is pushing the party to confront the issue that dare not speak its name

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steve Peers

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 20d

‘UK argues… Brussels is… reopening a debate… at which it was agreed to limit numbers…

‘EU diplomat.. perception among [EU27].. the UK… taking a “hyper-transactional” and “penny-pinching” approach might “demotivate” Brussels to deliver on other areas of British interest’

www.ft.com/content/773b...

EU demands no cap on youth mobility scheme with UK

Draft text also calls for ‘home’ fees for European students at UK universities

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 21d

“the question boils down to whether the need for common action to confront shared threats overrides protectionist impulses. Security threats… push us towards the former. Economic self-interest and the logic of national politics imply the latter” - @anandmenon@bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/0e5e...

Will the UK and EU choose to be partners or rivals?

From defence collaboration to energy, the bloc is struggling to decide how to view its former member

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 22d

'Starmer’s allies are concerned that speculation about Britain rejoining the customs union is not only erroneous but would mean giving up recent UK trade deals. There is also concern the idea will be opposed in Brussels. “Would the EU even accept us?” said one.'

www.ft.com/content/963f...

Starmer rules out rejoining EU customs union but steps up ‘reset’ efforts

UK prime minister has given two speeches this week promising closer ties with Brussels

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 22d

“European leaders are already grappling with packed in-trays… and skepticism remains as to how much room for maneuver [Starmer] actually has.

“Starmer’s political red lines — no customs union, no single market, and no return to freedom of movement — remain in place”

www.politico.eu/article/brex...

Brexit Britain is flirting with the EU again — but Brussels is pretty busy

British ministers now openly talk about the economic effects of a “chaotic Brexit.” But there’s no easy lever for them to pull.

www.politico.eu

Reposted by Steve Peers

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 23d

EU-UK Specialised Committee on Implementation of Windsor Framework met today

Statement includes positives on progress being made ... still issues to be addressed

Frequency of SPS identity checks being reduced

AI and Cyber Resilience Acts to apply in NI? TBD

commission.europa.eu/document/dow...

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 24d

"Backing a customs union would represent an explicit manifesto breach... and would also risk damaging relations with Donald Trump... Yet the longer Starmer’s woes persist, the more voices will urge him, as in 2018, to tear up the script."

www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Keir Starmer’s European opportunity

Why government insiders are urging the Prime Minister to embrace a customs union with the EU

www.newstatesman.com

Reposted by Ann Bartow, Catriona Seth

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 24d

"Negotiators are aiming to finalise a deal by January that would allow the UK to participate in Erasmus from 2027 onwards, according to two UK and EU officials."

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme

Britain quit EU programme after Brexit, when Boris Johnson claimed it did not offer good value for money

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steve Peers

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 25

Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework next meets on 3 December 2025

Agenda as for October meeting, so still exchanging views on whether (and, if so, to what extent) EU's AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act should apply in Northern Ireland

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Reposted by Tobias Lock

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 24

On the Windsor Framework and the NI Assembly's 2024 Democratic Consent vote...

With @politicalquarterly.bsky.social

Open access via:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 24

'The government has said the financial package.... will provide a "single point of contact" to solve disputes and guide businesses on trading in NI.'

Follows reports and recommendations on Windsor Framework from Lord Murphy and from Independent Monitoring Panel.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Budget 2025: NI businesses to get £16m in post-Brexit trade support

The chancellor will announce the package when she reveals the details of the Budget on Wednesday.

www.bbc.co.uk

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 21

The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly held its 6th meeting this week.

The recommendation agreed 👇

www.parliament.uk/globalassets...

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 21

‘Under current rules, EU countries can spend up to 35 per cent of the rearmament fund with UK defence companies. If the UK joins Safe, this could rise as high as 50 per cent, but Brussels has said the UK’s contribution needs to reflect the benefits to British industry.’

www.ft.com/content/ba88...

Brussels slashes €6.7bn price tag for UK to join EU defence fund

European Commission cuts cost by two-thirds to €2bn but figure is still far above the €75mn Britain has offered

www.ft.com

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Nov 20

“Major differences remain between the two sides over the level of financial contributions the U.K. would need to make and the minimum mandatory share of components produced inside the EU, with senior British figures signaling they would not seek entry at any price.”
www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...