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The #UK refuses to grant #diplomatic status to the #EU ambassador in London, causing a row.
Let me share why this issue matters.
A thread
Let me share why this issue matters.
A thread
you can find more details here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55742664
international status of the #EU was a difficult issue for many years, because it is not a state. The Lisbon Treaty in 2010 gave the EU legal personality to sign intenrational treaties sign treaties
Diplomatic status is a bit more complicated for the EU.
Because it is not a state, it is not party to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations from 1961 #VCDR.
Therefore negotiates separate agreements with third countries that grant its represenatives diplomatic status
Because it is not a state, it is not party to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations from 1961 #VCDR.
Therefore negotiates separate agreements with third countries that grant its represenatives diplomatic status
The EU now has 134 EU delegations representating the EU diplomatically in third countries. These countries granted the head of the EU delegation the courtesy title "EU ambassador"
This practice has even already been around since 1983, when the head of the European Commission offices received the courtesy title "ambassador". 1985 the right to fly EU flag in front of building.
so it is a political decision by the UK
but what does it mean? why does it matter?
but what does it mean? why does it matter?
UK not grant the EU diplomatic status sends a very strong message of how it wants the EU to be perceived:
not as equal partner with the same diplomatic standing
but as second-class entity as international organisation.
not as equal partner with the same diplomatic standing
but as second-class entity as international organisation.
UK knows quite well that this need to agree bilaterally on the EU ambassador´s diplomatic status is the Achilles heel of the European Union, as a similar incident with the Trump administration in January 2020 showed: https://www.dw.com/en/trump-administration-downgrades-eu-mission-to-us/a-46990608?maca=en-Twitter-sharing
as Prof Karen Smith from @LSEIRDept titled "The Trump administration downgraded the E.U.’s diplomatic status in Washington. That’s going to hurt." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2019/01/08/the-trump-administration-is-downgrading-the-e-u-s-diplomatic-status-in-washington-thats-going-to-hurt/
UK refusing to give the EU representation in London same diplomatic status like EU member states can be interpreted as political intention to foster bilateral ties with single EU member states directly instead of interacting with them through EU.
question remains: how will EU member states react? will unity from #Brexit negotiations prevail?
