Delighted to announce our next Post-Brexit Clinic on the Windsor Framework on 5 November Join me, Katy Hayward, Lisa Whitten and Billy Melo Araujo online or in person to discuss latest LucidTalk poll findings, the upcoming democratic consent vote and more www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexi...

“The EU never likes to be accused of interfering in the internal affairs of its partners. But it cannot act as a neutral observer in Georgia or Moldova – it is in a battle for influence that it needs to win.” - ⁦‪@CER_IanBond‬⁩ mailings.cer.eu/insights/geo...

Georgia and Moldova: Putin's dominoes?

Georgia and Moldova are EU candidate countries facing elections this month. Both risk coming under increased Russian influence, but for very different reasons. The EU should invest in keeping them in ...

Moldova voting Sunday www.politico.eu/article/mold...

Moldova faces ‘existential’ EU vote in face of Russian interference

Moscow is using cash and fear in an attempt to regain control of the former Soviet Republic, officials warn.

Five years ago today… agreement on the terms of the UK’s withdrawal… and so the revised Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland www.theguardian.com/politics/201...

Boris Johnson gets his deal and a slap on the back in Brussels

Beyond the bonhomie at EU summit, leaders fear PM’s deal could meet same fate as his predecessor’s

"UK and EU will establish a six-monthly Foreign Policy Dialogue between the UK Foreign Secretary and the EU High Representative... agreed to a number of regular UK-EU strategic consultations... on Russia/Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, the Western Balkans and Hybrid threats." www.gov.uk/government/n...

Joint press release on the meeting between High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy

The Foreign Secretary and EU High Representative reaffirm the importance of the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom for European security and agree to advance work towards a...

'The UK is expected to take the proposals away to consider. UK officials signalled Britain is keen to strengthen co-operation with the EU and has not ruled anything out… 'Borrell said the talks... had been “excellent”... they would have regular meetings every six months" www.ft.com/content/352a...

EU countries call on Britain to commit to Brussels-led peacekeeping mission

Foreign ministers urge UK to take part in conflict prevention as London pushes for deeper security co-operation

Welcome as part of 'reset'. Key is whether such senior engagement becomes regularized (e.g. further FAC lunches, although these held with others, or dedicated bilateral EU-UK forum) and foreign policy engagement at lower official level can be formalized. www.ft.com/content/4a63...

Britain rejoins the EU foreign affairs council — for lunch

Also in this newsletter: the EU countries pushing for more, not less, green policy

“it seems that Georgia faces two possible futures: creeping authoritarianism and alignment with Russia… or democracy and a pro-European path if the opposition wins and takes office... [this] oversimplifies what is an altogether more complicated story” on.ft.com/4eJgmHE

Election showdown in Georgia

Few expect a free and fair contest in a country whose ruling party displays pro-Russian and anti-democratic tendencies

Have at last got around to reading @davidheniguk.bsky.socialecipe.org/publications...

Negotiating Uncertainty in UK-EU Relations: Past, Present, and Future

Ten key points to negotiating the UK-EU relationshipEurope has been weakened by difficult UK-EU relations at a time of international challenge. Eight years after the Brexit referendum a new UK gover

Composition of UKG Cabinet Committees published yesterday. SoS for Northern Ireland attending Cabinet Committee on Europe. Previously attended only when Protocol/Windsor Framework matters on the agenda. www.gov.uk/government/p...