The Windsor Agreement reached between the UK and the EU over Northern Ireland dominated discussions this week about Britain's international relations. Therefore this week’s BFP10 Must-Reads are divided into 10 takes on the Windsor Agreement and 10 takes on non-Windsor matters.
Windsor Agreement
UKICE: The Windsor Framework: a quick evaluation. Andrew McCormick, former Director General of International Relations in the Northern Ireland Executive Office (2018-2021), gives an early assessment of the Windsor Framework, concluding that it provides a positive basis for moving forward.
CER: Does the Windsor deal herald warmer ties between Britain and the EU? The Windsor deal on the Northern Ireland protocol may herald warmer UK-EU ties. It has strengthened von der Leyen and Sunak. But the Retained EU Law bill promises trouble.
Sam Lowe: The Windsor Framework. The vibes are good. The EU and UK have finally agreed on concrete measures to improve the Northern Ireland Protocol: the so-called ‘Windsor Framework’ (WF).
Simon Usherwood for Open University: Starting to unpack the Windsor Framework. Includes some very helpful diagrams mapping out the framework.
FT: How the Windsor framework changes Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements. Agreement refines post-Brexit processes on trade, state subsidies and value added tax.
Politico: Inside the deal: How Boris Johnson’s departure paved the way for a grand Brexit bargain. An ‘unholy trinity’ of UK civil servants ensconced in a Brussels basement thrashed out EU agreement.
The Spectator: Is Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal all it’s cracked up to be? Rishi Sunak’s ‘deal’ on the Northern Ireland Protocol is finally out. My first impression is that it is no ‘deal’ at all: the version of the text published by the government is a document with no legal effect that is possible to enforce. It’s a wish list of vague commitments.
The Economist: The new Brexit deal is the best Britain can expect. Support it. Both the Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party should get behind the new agreement with the EU.
New Statesman: The Brexiteers know they’re losing. The momentum is now with those who want a close relationship between the UK and the EU.
Non-Windsor Agreement
Soft Power—Brand Finance: Global Soft Power Index 2022: USA bounces back better to top of nation brand ranking. UK takes 2nd spot and leads Europe, ahead of last year’s leader Germany.
Rejoining the EU—UKICE: Five reasons why rejoining the EU is a difficult path to follow. Simon Usherwood sets out five reasons why going down the road of rejoining the EU would prove difficult for any UK political party.
London—Centre for Cities: Capital losses: The role of London in the UK’s productivity puzzle. London's productivity growth has stalled since 2007, explaining a large part of the UK's 'productivity puzzle' and leaving it trailing behind its global peers. Coverage also in the FT: London’s slowdown to blame for weak UK productivity, says think-tank.
London—WSJ: New York Pushes London Aside in Battle of Financial Centers. British chip designer Arm spurns the U.K., attracted by the scale and robust liquidity of U.S. markets.
Innovation—FT: UK struggles with transition to manufacturing electric cars. Critical investment decisions are due from companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota.
Innovation—FT: Rishi Sunak holds back on rejoining Horizon after Brexit breakthrough. Prime minister said to be ‘sceptical’ about value of research programme and cost of UK participation.
UK-France: France is becoming the new Britain. Brexit and the French ruling class’s superior survival skills are helping it trounce its rival on the world stage.
State Visits: King Charles to travel to France and Germany in first state visits. The first state visits of the reign of King Charles are going to be to France and Germany, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Global Britain—Theresa May: ‘Global Britain was the right policy in 2016. And Global Britain is the right policy today.’ May’s Carlton Lecture.
US views of Europe—The American Conservative: The State of Europe. Lessons for America from France, Britain, and Germany.