Europe: We are in this together
We are entering a depressing winter. Much of the population of England will by tomorrow be under either “high” or “very high” lockdown restrictions, with household mixing banned indoors. The hospitality industry faces another crash as the public is discouraged from using its services, and workers already facing Christmas redundancy will find it much more difficult to get back into the jobs market.
The one silver lining, if we can call it that, is that Britain is not alone in this struggle. Our government is not unique in its failure to produce a comprehensive strategy. In fact, it is difficult to name an administration in Europe that isn’t wrestling with rising cases and faltering contact tracing systems. Continental leaders from Macron to Sanchez to Merkel thought they’d tamed coronavirus, until now.
More than 30,000 cases were reported in France yesterday, where President Macron has taken personal leadership of the response following widespread criticism. Residents of Paris, its suburbs and eight other cities including Marseille and Lyon will from Saturday be banned from leaving their homes without a “valid reason” between 9pm and 6am.
The President hinted that these restrictions will either stay in place or become more draconian until French daily cases come down to 3,000.
The city of Madrid and eight satellite towns in Spain are currently in a semi-lockdown, with people unable to enter or leave the areas unless it is for work, school or healthcare. Bars and restaurants have been forced to operate at a maximum of 50% of their interior capacity – in some areas this limit is lower still, at 30% – and food and drink venues in Catalonia can only offer takeaway services.
Even Germany is struggling to contain the rise. As Niclas Knecht writes for Reaction today, the country’s infection rates have risen dramatically over the last fortnight. The heads of the 16 federal states agreed on Wednesday on uniform restrictions to contain outbreaks in coronavirus hotspots. In some cities and regions, masks will be mandatory in public spaces.
The biggest German hotspots will see private gatherings limited to ten people and bars and restaurants ordered to close at 11pm.
To borrow a phrase, we are all in this together.
No deal or yes deal? There’s more to play for
Boris Johnson updated the nation on the status of Brexit negotiations this afternoon. “From the outset, we were totally clear that we wanted nothing more complicated than a Canada-style relationship based on friendship and free trade. To judge by the latest EU summit in Brussels, that won’t work for our EU partners,” he said.
“Since we have only ten weeks until the end of the transition period on 1 January, I have to make a judgment about the likely outcome and to get us all ready. Given that they have refused to negotiate seriously for much of the last few months… I’ve concluded that we should get ready for 1 January with arrangements that are more like Australia’s, based on simple principles of global free trade,” he added.
The Prime Minister attempted to show Brussels that he is serious about leaving without a trade agreement if the EU fails to make concessions on state aid and fisheries, but he delivered a rather weaker statement than what was expected. Downing Street had briefed the media that the UK would be prepared to walk away from negotiations if a deal wasn’t reached by Johnson’s 15 October deadline. That is not what has happened.
Rather than abandoning negotiations, Johnson has simply ramped up his government’s threats while leaving the door open to more negotiations, which will intensify in London next week. More than anything, today’s damp squib statement from the PM shows how much he wants a deal.
The good news for the UK negotiating team is that EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, usually a pessimist, is gunning more than ever for a deal. “The negotiations aren’t over,” he said yesterday. We want to give these negotiations every chance to be successful. “I shall say to David Frost that we’re prepared to speed up negotiations in the next few days.”
Rumours late this evening suggested that Lord Frost is calling off further talks with Barnier. However, as with all EU negotiations, this is a hire-wire act. Let’s hope there is no tripping up because both sides still want a deal.
Have a good weekend.
Mutaz Ahmed
Political Reporter