David Phinnemore
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dphinnemore.bsky.social
David Phinnemore
@dphinnemore.bsky.social

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

Political science 88%
Economics 4%

“The overall result for the six month period is that 96% of the value of goods moved under freight did so within the Internal Market system. The UK Government’s Internal Market Guarantee of 80% has therefore been met for this period.’

Caveats and recommendations

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

“say the UK should make such payments just as countries with closer EU economic ties such as Norway and Switzerland do…

But a handful led by Germany and the Netherlands have argued against…

“Member state ambassadors will meet on Tuesday to try to thrash out a solution.”

Reposted by Steve Peers

“Member states on Friday postponed signing off their mandate for [an SPS] deal and for the terms of the UK’s re entry to the single energy market...

“The delay was caused by divisions over whether the UK should pay into the EU’s regional funds…

“A majority…

www.ft.com/content/03ef...
Von der Leyen dodged Starmer request for meeting on EU money demands
European Commission president had ‘scheduling’ issues at COP30 summit in Brazil and did not meet the UK premier
www.ft.com

Could do with sight of the proposed 'joint statements'

Do we know that the EU(27) are demanding contributions to regional funds?

Commission's proposal for negotiating mandate made no mention of it

Reposted by Steve Peers

On the agenda of Coreper II today

data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...

Reposted by Ben Tonra

From the EU-UK ‘Common Understanding’ in May:

“32. The SPS Agreement should provide for an appropriate financial contribution from the United Kingdom to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area.”
EU demands UK pay into budget as part of relationship ‘reset’
Growing tension between London and Brussels just six months after summit set out to build stronger ties
on.ft.com

The poll was conducted by LucidTalk on 3-6 October 2025 and the findings draw on a sample of 1201 respondents weighted to be representative of the adult population of Northern Ireland. Results are accurate to a margin of error of +/-2.3% at 95% confidence.

Full report: www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...

On the recommendations made by Lord Murphy following his Independent Review of the Windsor Framework, most popular are:

- UK Government considering all possibilities to reduce frictions on GB-NI movement of goods

- UK Government and NI Executive emphasising benefits of dual market access

The survey is the first to be conducted since the UK-EU Summit in May.

NI voters are most supportive of UK-EU plans for:

- closer cooperation on health security (e.g. in relation to pandemics)

- an SPS agreement likely to reduce the impact of the Irish Sea border.

When placed alongside nine other issues, only 15% of respondents rank the Windsor Framework in their top three issues of concern.

For most respondents, priority concerns are around health and social care provision, and the economy and cost of living...

Few actors are more trusted than distrusted on managing the interests of Northern Ireland with respect to the Windsor Framework.

Only business representatives are trusted by the majority of voters...

Views continue to be divided on the impact of the Windsor Framework.

46% currently view its impact on the economy as positive, so down on February 2024 (56%); 36% view the impact as negative...

Just over half of voters (52%) view the Windsor Framework as an appropriate way to manage the effects of Brexit.

The issue on which there is most consensus is that Brexit is on balance a bad thing for Northern Ireland: 63% think so, including 55% strongly, compared to 31% thinking it good...

48% of respondents regard the Windsor Framework as ‘on balance a good thing for Northern Ireland’, the lowest level since June 2021; 36% disagree...

Out today, the findings of latest polling of NI voters' views on Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU relations.

While most voters in Northern Ireland are either generally accepting or supportive of the Windsor Framework, overall support has weakened...

www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...

And on that labyrinthine complexity...

Reposted by Simon Usherwood

House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee first report published.

"labyrinthine complexity of the institutional architecture of the Windsor Framework makes it impossible for stakeholders to navigate"

A detailed report.

committees.parliament.uk/committee/76...
Urgent action needed to fix overwhelmingly complex Windsor Framework arrangements, Lords Committee warn - Committees - UK Parliament
Today the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee publishes its first report following its inquiry on Strengthening Northern Ireland’s Voice in the Context of the Windsor Framework, issuing a strong...
committees.parliament.uk

Among the aims: 'help[ing increase the countries’ competitiveness and ultimately prepares the WB 6 for EU Membership'

Coverage striking for omitting any mention of some EU(27) Foreign Ministers attending and that meeting is part of the Berlin Process designed to 'increase cooperation between the Western Balkans Six and the Berlin Process host countries as well as the EU'. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Yvette Cooper hosting Balkans security summit at Hillsborough
It will focus on preserving security and stability in the Western Balkans.
www.bbc.co.uk

NI as testbed for UK to demonstrate it can meet obligations towards the EU.

www.ft.com/content/7238...
EU warns UK must improve NI border checks before veterinary deal is signed
Officials say London must comply before it can start serious talks on a sweeping agrifood agreement
www.ft.com

Reposted by Katy Hayward

Interested in what voters in Northern Ireland currently think about Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU relations?

Join @katyhayward.bsky.social and me on Friday 24 October as we present the findings from our latest polling with @lucidtalk.bsky.social

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexi...
Post-Brexit Clinic at Queen's - October 2025
Join us online for our latest Post-Brexit Clinic for updates on the Protocol/Windsor Framework.
www.eventbrite.co.uk

Deadline for submissions extended to 15 October

councilforeuropeanstudies.org/conferences/...
📢 Call for Proposals

CES is pleased to invite submissions for its 32nd International Conference of Europeanists, to be held in Dublin, June 16–18, 2025.

For more information about the Conference Theme and how to apply visit: councilforeuropeanstudies.org/conferences/...

Sefcovic: “Based on the trust we have rebuilt over the last years, I’m convinced that we can proceed with the SPS negotiations very quickly. We are now very well advanced in getting the mandate from the member states to do that.”

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
Talks on food and meat sales between EU and UK could be completed ‘in less than a year’
It had been understood that they could take until 2027
www.irishtimes.com

‘versus just 22 percent who are opposed’

www.politico.eu/article/uk-w...
Brits want Nigel Farage to step away from the Brexit shredder
Polling commissioned by POLITICO shows wide public support for Labour’s EU reset.
www.politico.eu
‘Polling commissioned by POLITICO shows the government’s agri-food deal agreed in principle with Brussels is popular with Remainers and Leavers alike — even when they're told it means following EU rules.

‘Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of voters back the deal…

Joint Statement from today's EU-UK Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework.

Work still to be done on 'full, timely and faithful' implementation.

More detail than in past statements

Value of stakeholder engagement flagged

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

Latest European Political Community summit in Copenhagen today.

'While the gathering hasn’t lived up to the hype set by Macron, most of those who spoke to POLITICO said it would be wrong to consider it a failure. Dialogue doesn’t hurt anyone, after all.'
www.politico.eu/article/macr...
Macron’s big European meeting is turning into a speed-dating exercise
The once-hyped European Political Community hasn’t produced major deliverables, but it’s still useful for dialogue and showcasing policy initiatives.
www.politico.eu