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Another fun TCA problem: UK seems to think EU is completing its ratification this month
Which it's not https://twitter.com/EuropeanNick/status/1359127034849615878
Which it's not https://twitter.com/EuropeanNick/status/1359127034849615878
A reminder: TCA itself only has provisional application lasting to end Feb, unless either full ratification completed, or mutual agreement to extend in Partnership Council
UK has completed its arm of ratification, while EU accepted EP needed more time to look at it all properly, before giving its formal approval
However: EP can only vote on this in plenary
However: EP can only vote on this in plenary
The only plenary before end Feb is happening, um, now
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/home.html
You'll note there's no report from the various committees that need to check it over, nor time for debate or voting in plenary
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/home.html
You'll note there's no report from the various committees that need to check it over, nor time for debate or voting in plenary
ispo facto, EU isn't completing ratification within TCA period, so an extension must be asked for if the provisional application isn't to end
And UK/Gove will have known this, since EP plenary agenda's been known for some time
And UK/Gove will have known this, since EP plenary agenda's been known for some time
+ve guess is that Gove's evidence to @CommonsEU has just neglected to have this flagged up for him, so he winged it
-ve guess is he knows full well it's the case and it'll be used to try to paint EU as somehow feckless
-ve guess is he knows full well it's the case and it'll be used to try to paint EU as somehow feckless
very -ve take would be that it'll be a tool to try to press for changes on NIP
(which won't work, except in further aggravating relations)
(which won't work, except in further aggravating relations)
Again, another issue that could have been managed very much on the QT with no-one minding that much, but is getting dragged up for some end
Which isn't going to help any smooth running of it all
Which isn't going to help any smooth running of it all
(thanks to @EuropeanNick @jonworth for flagging this)
