Read on Twitter
New @instituteforgov report on managing UK-EU relationship. I would start in a different place, and I think get to a different result - our priorities should be resolving trading issues and influencing future regulations, plus general political relations. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/managing-uk-relationship-eu.pdf
I think we get distracted by the elaborate committee structures set up by UK-EU treaties. The EU aim to do this with everyone. The only way we're special is we have two treaties so two sets of committees. That's actually quite revealing in its way.
So how do the committes help us if we have day-to-day business issues, as we do and will, or want to try to influence EU regulation? They don't, necessarily. This is going to have to be the same stuff as we do with every country in the world. Only more so, more at stake.
Cabinet Office is not set up to manage this kind of business as usual diplomatic and trading relationship with the EU, US, China etc. That has to be an FCDO lead, with strong support from DIT and every other department. Visions of cross-Whitehall meetings...
You can have the PM's team (i.e. Lord Frost etc) setting the direction for the relationship, as per typical role of PM's international lead. But the firepower has to be serious and large teams across government. Business has to know where it goes for EU trade issues.
As far as I can see right now we aren't anything like set up for the EU relationship. Not a priority for any department, even though this is 50% of our trade, 3 of 7 G7 members etc. That has to change as a matter of urgency, otherwise it will be all politics and no substance.
And yes it means recognising the EU Ambassador as soon as possible. Important interests are at stake for the country - 50% of our trade. Risking that to have a political argument of no basic consequence is everything that is currently wrong with our EU relationship.
We have to assume at this stage the committee structure with the EU delivers nothing, and need to build the engagement structures outside. We might be pleasantly surprised, but more likely if we put in serious effort.
Right now the EU are discussing multiple regulations which could have major implications on the UK. Yet as a country we are seen in a heavily negative light. There isn't much interest in what the UK thinks. That is what has to change. And that's a diplomat led job. /end
NB another needless UK battle being set up with the EU. More than anything else we need a change of mindset that means we value relationships within Europe asap. Burning diplomatic capital with your main trading partner for no reason is sheer stupidity. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-countries-oppose-uks-visa-fees-as-discriminatory/
