Thomas M
tmeilveis.bsky.social
Thomas M
@tmeilveis.bsky.social
Switzerland Immigration/EU Freedom of Movement:
youtu.be/aFkh4N_222w?...
Immigration : le grand débat suisse | RTS
YouTube video by RTS - Radio Télévision Suisse
youtu.be
June 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Thomas M
Obviously, the lack of a grand bargain that this strategy implies leaves Swiss-style bickering a more likely possibility
But attempts to move beyond this reset are lively to quickly run into the problems of Europe's strategic holistic view of relations that even CH hasn't fully managed to avoid

10
June 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Thomas M
Good article from @jonworth.eu

Europe has put in place a network of motorways and competitive flights, the latter in particular only possible thanks to European law.

Let's push now for night trains, better travel in every sense. This needs Bxl leadership

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Europe was promised a new golden age of the night train. Why are we still waiting? | Jon Worth
Romance, excitement and sustainability – continent-crossing sleeper trains should be a hit. It’s time for the EU to catch on, says writer and campaigner Jon Worth
www.theguardian.com
June 12, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Reposted by Thomas M
🚨🚨So the terms of the UK-US Economic Partnership Deal has been disclosed. The only you need to know now is that it is actually NOT a A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT containing LEGALLY BINDING OBLIGATIONS.🧵 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/681d32...
May 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I hate to disagree with Janan Ganesh, but this is a straw-man argument.
If Danish statescraft really works the way described here, it is only because societal consensus and compliance can be supremely tribal.
on.ft.com/4hwXc8t
A Denmark state of mind
The country’s ability to think on an issue-by-issue basis is rare in a tribal era
on.ft.com
March 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Thomas M
Will it upset Europe?

The issues with CH were around direct effect, single treaty, and governance. Much as Europe has addressed these with CH, it will avoid them with the UK.

Given that we've restructured the relationship so that, while not perfect, is essentially an SM structure now.

A 🧵
Well this will upset a lot of EU purists here. But has been a well trodden path for serious analysts for some time - on how the UK-EU will in fact (already does) follow the Swiss model.
March 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM
(1/4) With respect Andrew, I understand your frustration but bashing 🇮🇪 on nat security is pointless unless you're willing to understand the root causes of our failure in 🇮🇪 to adequately defend our skies & territorial waters. Like it or not, the 🇮🇪 people have a deep emotional attachment to neutrality
March 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Thomas M
🚨🚨 Releasing Russian frozen assets is one of the key issues at stake now in terms of strategies for supporting the Ukrainian war effort when US appears to abandon ship. This is v good piece explaining the complex politics involved here. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-u...
EU eyes €200B secret weapon as Trump dominates Ukraine peace talks
Europe has significant leverage after being left out of key talks on ending the war in Ukraine, but will it use it?
www.politico.eu
February 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Thomas M
@sturdyalex.bsky.social with a very interesting interview with Michael Peel of the FT

They spoke about the impression of non-Britons of Britain, which is actually one of the interesting things about Mr Andreou is that he obviously knows UK well, but from an outside view.

1
February 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Thomas M
It is very hard to see how Brexit could have been stopped without a huge backlash and political crisis.

That would have been very damaging to Europe, and of course thermonuclear in the UK itself.

(I say that from this vantage point; at the time I thought just cancelling was the best option)
February 13, 2025 at 10:22 AM
EU-Canada relations in the Trump era:
bsky.app/profile/tmei...
(1/7) I don't know about a NATO for tariffs & trade but we could make a start with the 🇪🇺-🇨🇦 CETA FTA. The French overseas collectivity of St Pierre & Miquelon is only 20km off the coast of Newfoundland (NL) & it uses the euro as its currency (it's the only eurozone territory in North America).
February 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM
(1/7) I don't know about a NATO for tariffs & trade but we could make a start with the 🇪🇺-🇨🇦 CETA FTA. The French overseas collectivity of St Pierre & Miquelon is only 20km off the coast of Newfoundland (NL) & it uses the euro as its currency (it's the only eurozone territory in North America).
February 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Thomas M
Seeing as everyone is writing Brexit anniversary pieces, I thought I'd give it a go.

Brexit for 🇪🇺 didn't begin in. 2020 or even 2016.

Brexit began during the financial crisis, with UK blackmail.

A 🧵
February 2, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Thomas M
The UK thought it could leave the EU and still call the shots. Five years on, reality has set in. Dr Daniele Saracino unpacks the UK's weaker negotiating position.
EU solidarity – the UK is out in the cold now
The UK’s negotiating position towards the EU has become much more challenging since it is no longer covered by bloc solidarity
eastangliabylines.co.uk
January 31, 2025 at 10:49 AM