Come for the forms, stay for the research funding shortfall

EU(27) moving towards adoption of mandates for negotiations on SPS and ETS agreements with the UK. data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...

Me, for @ukandeu.bsky.social, on why we might be going back to talking about money in the UK-EU relationship @oupolitics.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social

Today's cycle

Today's constitutional

As with the rest of the Cmn Understanding, just because it didn't say it would be asked for, doesn't mean it wouldn't be asked for

Today's constitutional

An update of progress on EU-UK negotiations of the Strategic Partnership/Common Understanding agenda from May's summit tl;dr barring SAFE, not much to see PDF: bit.ly/UshGraphic141

Today's constitutional

Today's constitutional

Since I'm being asked about this story from the weekend, a quick reminder that the UK left the EU nearly 6 years ago and the financials have been the absolute least problematic part of it all

My take on what 🇳🇱 elections may mean for 🇪🇺 @ Politico.eu “What is already clear is that the Dutch electorate voted far more pro-European than it did in 2023. […] Euroskepticism that once dominated the political mood has given way to a quiet mandate for cooperation” www.politico.eu/article/neth...

Today's cycle

I don't think that's how Question Time works, Matt

Today's constitutional

Thoughtful piece, to which I'd only add that any discussion about feasibility needs to start from a point of purpose: why join (or, indeed, not join)?

Today's constitutional

What I think this demonstrates is 3 things (1) This mass deportation policy is wildly at odds with public opinion in general, and with opinion of many sensible Tory voters, members & MPs (2) Many ppl defending the policy didn't know what was in it (3) Informing and pressuring them therefore works

Today's constitutional

One for @vcorenmitchell.bsky.social I believe

Public attitudes to Chris Philp's policy: it should take at least 10 years to get ILR, and that should "never" lead to benefits access

Today's 2

We had the first meeting of our nascent #Cycling #Europe Study Circle (a working title) today! Thanks a lot to @simonusherwood.bsky.social for the slides and for moderating, and to everyone who attended. Watch this space for updates - we promise not to (only) share pictures of bikes and lycra 🚴🏽‍♀️

Last chance to sign up for our discussion about how we might study cycling and Europe: even if you can't make it, do share your details and we'll tell you about what we thought we'd do

My pessimistic take would be that LAB decide they're good for #GE29 because tactical voting will block REF, so they don't need to address the failings of their current strategy

From an @euractiv.com analysis on EU-Japan relations - note the UK ranks fourth in terms of EU Commissioner visits this year. Shows to me that the EU treats the relationship currently as largely 'settled'. It is working, but not a very high priority amongst the many challenges facing the Union.

Today's constitutional

Interesting analysis of bilateral security and defence partnerships in Europe since 2024 from @boelleu.bsky.social This tracks over 160 new agreements, most of them since 2024/25. Amongst EU members, France (as nuclear power) and then Germany are the most sought for partner.

Today's constitutional

📢 Don’t Miss Out: UACES Fieldwork Scholarships 2025-26 £1,500.00 to fund PhD research that matters. Four flexible scholarships for fieldwork on contemporary European Studies. Learn More and Apply by 7 November 2025: www.uaces.org/funding/scho... #PhDLife #EuropeanStudies #PhDFunding

Brian Bell, chair of the migration Advisory Committee, says "the government would be in breach, very clear breach, of its manifesto commitment to reduce net migration" if it signed up to an uncapped EU youth mobility scheme. I don't think that's true. 1/n www.politico.eu/article/brus...

IT'S OUT!!!!!! New @ukandeu.bsky.social Divergence Tracker by @jreland.bsky.social The best way to keep up with regulatory alignment / divergence between UK and EU. This time we learn how hard it is to align even if we want to. ukandeu.ac.uk/reports/uk-e... 1/2

Today's constitutional

Today's art

Too on holiday to get into the questions I want to ask everyone involved www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Today's view from a belfry

Today's constitutional

Telling poll showing majority of Brits preferring the pre-Brexit immigration system, incl. 37% of (confused) Reform voters. Not necessarily a wish to go back to free movement, but certainly an acknowledgement that Brexit did not only not solve the issue but created new problems.

Another call to come and join our incipient plans to study cycling and Europe, in whatever way you think useful @uaces.bsky.social

Today's constitutional

Hi Bluesky. We’re Contemporary European Politics (CEP) a journal by Wiley & UACES, publishing cutting-edge research on the politics, governance & societies of Europe. Follow us for new articles, special issues, & insights shaping Europe’s future. #EuropeanPolitics #AcademicResearch #UACES #Wiley

The Committee has published a unanimous report today on Northern Ireland after Brexit: Strengthening Northern Ireland's voice in the context of the Windsor Framework. The Committee warns that efforts to mitigate the democratic deficit in NI after Brexit remain insufficient. 1/6

Excellent report from Lords NI Scrutiny Cte on Windsor Framework: complexity is a problem for long-term viability of arrangements committees.parliament.uk/committee/76...

House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee first report published. "labyrinthine complexity of the institutional architecture of the Windsor Framework makes it impossible for stakeholders to navigate" A detailed report. committees.parliament.uk/committee/76...

Today's campus

Rightly being shared by many: Brexit as a barrier to Tory reconstruction on.ft.com/3IITPQv

Of course

Today's constitutional

Today's cycle

Today's constitutional