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[Doctor Gollum]

I suspect that after a long and tedious couple of years a deal of sorts will be hammered out only to be rejected by the European Parliament, as MEP's will try to retain some sort of regularity control over the UK. 

Which in two years time we can ignore... by which time, the individual countries worth trading with should know which side their bread is buttered

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Others demand to "know" the "government position" ... just how does that fit the definition of "negotiation", it might be the minimum acceptable but you have instantly handed the "other side" the winning position as all they have to do is say "No" to anything better ... 

Yes, yet nobody is demanding that the EU sets out it's position in the negotiations or that their beloved EU take the moral high ground and guarantee British citizens living in EU countries their right to stay post BREXIT. 

Indeed.

Does the EU even have a negotiating position? I'm not sure how a collection of 27 ministers can have a sensible negotiation when every time one of them says "NON" it's back to square one.

I suspect we're in for a long and tedious 2 years.

Getting two people to concur can be tricky. Three people harder still.

Getting twenty-seven countries to agree is going to be a big ask. The French won't make it easy for us.

[Viral_Jim]

Getting twenty-seven countries to agree is going to be a big ask. The French won't make it easy for us.

I foresee the Spanish being one of the biggest stumbling blocks tbh. I don't think they have much to trade with us (could be wrong), other than wanting access to our fishing grounds which will be a non-negotiable from a UK perspective. Added to that the risk that any kind of "good deal" for the UK could risk triggering the breakup of their own nation, i suspect they will be offering us the very stickiest end of the stick.

[RobG]

A little-known clause in the World Trade Organisation rules would allow the UK to have a decade-long interim free trade arrangement with the EU, allowing more time for a bespoke deal to be stuck once Britain has left.
The provision is set out in Article 24 of the WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,

[Varche]

Getting twenty-seven countries to agree is going to be a big ask. The French won't make it easy for us.

I foresee the Spanish being one of the biggest stumbling blocks tbh. I don't think they have much to trade with us (could be wrong), other than wanting access to our fishing grounds which will be a non-negotiable from a UK perspective. Added to that the risk that any kind of "good deal" for the UK could risk triggering the breakup of their own nation, i suspect they will be offering us the very stickiest end of the stick.

Spain is the sixth biggest trader with Britain within the EU. Awful lot of fruit and veg and wine (biggest producer of wine in the EU surpassing France though they bulk buy Spanish wine to mix with their own and then label French). About £14 billion in total( surprisingly more than Ireland). Britain sends about £9 billion the other way.
 

Not sure about Spanish risk to a good deal. It is very true that Spain would veto Scotland joining the EU if independent. To do so would open the flood gates for Catalunia, maybe Pays Basque and Galicia.  Fishing will be interesting to see how it pans out post Brexit. The Spanish are voracious consumers of fish (making Brits look like vegans) and have fleets trawling most of the worlds seas industrially. British fishermen sell a lot of their catches to Spain ironically.

[Doctor Gollum]

A little-known clause in the World Trade Organisation rules would allow the UK to have a decade-long interim free trade arrangement with the EU, allowing more time for a bespoke deal to be stuck once Britain has left.
The provision is set out in Article 24 of the WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,

But wheres the 'news' in that

[biggriffin]

So what changes will there be in 2 years,
None at all, you will still be driving German cars, eating fruit and veggies from Spain, and Cheese and cheap wine from France,
It's all a load of posturing, by over paid euro-crats worried about the collapse of there little club, if Madam le Penn, gets voted into run France, they will be the next to leave the club.

[Mister Rog]

Just in case anyone wants to see the actual letter . . . .

"The Article 50 letter - PDF

[biggriffin]

Just in case anyone wants to see the actual letter . . . .

"The Article 50 letter - PDF
[/
 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Historically, when negotiating, the EU postures, digs its heels in, refuses to bend until the last minute of the last day of a possible deal. Then they hammer out a deal in a long, all night session. I don't suppose its going to be any different this time.
In the meantime our airwaves will be filled with people who make a living out of talking. Talking mostly bollix, but talking nonetheless.

[Viral_Jim]

Anyone else slightly perturbed by the over-use of the phrase Deep and Special   

[Doctor Gollum]

I wonder if it's actually genuine...

[STEMO]

Anyone else slightly perturbed by the over-use of the phrase Deep and Special   

We're being groomed by the EU 

[Drewomega]

Back to the beginning of this debacle!
We were lied to when we joined the EU (Common Market) in the 70's.
We were lied to when we were in the damn thing since then.
We are being lied to now and since the brexit vote.

Go figure! We will be OK, believe me. 

[Lizzie Zoom]

The Charge of the Light Brigade
BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
   Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
   Rode the six hundred.

II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
   Someone had blundered.
   Theirs not to make reply,
   Theirs not to reason why,
   Theirs but to do and die.
   Into the valley of Death
   Rode the six hundred.

Yes, another occasion of the great British stiff upper lip spirit