Brussels? Hello? 317 UK MPs Calling! Hello?

by Laura Lai/ Essay

The BREXIT process addressed at every step different questions. Some were answered, others were not. Recently the question that constantly repeats itself is ‘what’s next, if…?’. Then comes a diversity of opinions and of scenarios that give the impression that the BREXIT is becoming a shambolic process and that the UK lost direction. It may create a sense of fear among people, although it is not the case. The question of ‘next’ should not have its place in this context, because we still have ‘now’.

What?             Following the vote in the UK House of Commons on January 29^th, 2019 the British Government got a non-legally binding suggestion to rule out the no-deal option, and a clear mandate from 317 MPs (against 301) to replace the current formulation of

When?           the ‘backstop’ with another arrangement. And the replacement needs to be done in the next 2 weeks, because there are only 57 days to go until March 29^th, 2019 – the BREXIT Day.

Who?          In order to replace the current agreement on ‘backstop’ with another arrangement, the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, needs to make a proposal and the other side, the EU, needs to deliberate on it. But at this stage, from Brussels and from the other European capitals, London gets only messages like ‘the only deal’, ‘non-renegotiable’, ‘the backstop is part of the agreement’, etc.

During these 2 years of BREXIT negotiations, Brussels developed some sort of habit to reject British proposals without providing a reason or, even better, an alternative. Otherwise it is the UK government having contributing for 46 years to the Union project. It is its democratic right to choose and to try another path for its future. And the EU is a Union of democratic states. At this stage, Theresa May does not seem to have partners to discuss to, simply because the other part does not want to listen. In this context, it is logic that the British Prime Minister will return from Brussels with nothing or very little. And she will say that she tried, but she will not say how difficult is to deal with the European arrogance and inflexibility. If it was the other way around, the British politeness would have imposed on the UK MPs to listen. But the British politeness does not seem to have a European equivalent and Brussels does not want to hear of an extra document to the Withdrawal Agreement, as a legally binding document for the EU not to permanently trap the UK in the EU.

May the EU have ulterior motives not to want to modify the ‘backstop’? One may think so, because under this form, the EU can permanently trap the UK into the customs union, which will be against the result of the referendum, meaning that it would be undemocratic. And Brussels wants to stand as a symbol of democracy. Furthermore, by not seeking an alternative arrangement to the ‘backstop’, the EU is pushing the UK towards a no-deal.

Why?                          Why would the EU push the UK towards a no-deal? First, because the difficulty of the process, the panic of the first days and the constantly announced chaos will frighten other EU Member States tempted to leave the Union. And, second, the EU would have no responsibility of the no-deal, because the whole responsibility will fall on Theresa May and on her government.

How?              Therefore, the constantly repeated question of ‘what’s next, if…?’ should be replaced with another one, which focuses on ‘now’: How do we get the attention of Brussels, which should be reminded that until March 29^th, 2019 it is at the service of the UK, still a EU Member State? Questions whose answers are a source of speculations, should be replaced with questions, whose answers are brainstorming. And in so far, I have heard only one suggestion, that of the BREXIT Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, proposing that the UK not to pay the 39 bn to the EU, if Brussels does not want to discuss another arrangement for the ‘backstop’. Any other suggestions?

BREXIT: Legal Insurance vs. Concession

by Laura Lai/ Uncategorized

During the discussions in the UK House of Commons, on January 21^st, 2019, on the exit from the BREXIT deadlock, the leader of the British political opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, asked for clarifications on the difference between ‘legal insurance’ and ‘concession’.

If a teacher had asked me that question, I most probably would have raised my hand and try to provide an answer. For a maximized image, please click on the cartoon.

Germans + Britons = Love

by Laura Lai/ Jan. 19^th, 2019/ Uncategorized

Following the rejection of the BREXIT Withdrawal Agreement by the UK House of Commons on January 15^th, 2019 and amid growing speculations on possible future steps, on January 18^th all Britons could read, in The Times newspaper, a beautiful and touching letter sent to them by some remarkable German signatories (The letter can also be read here.).

‘B’ from Britain, ‘BREXIT’ and ‘Backstop’

by Laura Lai/ Jan. 16^th, 2019/ Comment

The BREXIT Withdrawal Agreement was approved at the European Summit on December 5^th, 2018. Since its agreement Brussels seemed fond of this agreement, underlining on every occasion that this is the only deal and that there is no room for further negotiations, but for some clarifications. And ever since is in the United Kingdom (UK) even more controversy.

            The main topic of controversy was referring to the agreed terms on the only land border that the UK will have with the European Union (EU): the border between the Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) and Ireland (which is a EU member state). It is shortly referred as ‘backstop’, which may be a new word in the English political dictionary.

            It implies a temporary custom union between the UK and the EU until a trade agreement is reached between the two. What’s the controversy about? Until a trade agreement is reached (if ever), the UK stays in the custom union and may never leave the European Union, because at this point the EU must agree whether or not it allows the UK to leave. And this would be in contradiction with the UK referendum on BREXIT, from June 23^rd, 2016.

Following the BREXIT Withdrawal Agreement and given the doubts on the implications that the backstop may have and the result of the referendum, the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, constantly demanded from Brussels that these clarifications to take the form of a legally binding document, as a legal guarantee that Brussels will not use the terms of the backstop indefinitely, as it may in these terms of the agreement, and that the UK will gain back the control over its borders, laws and money.

            All this time, Brussels ignored this demand of Theresa May, putting both sides, of Leave and Remain, in a constantly rising tension. However, on the morning when the Withdrawal Agreement is decisively discussed by London, sends Brussels two letters. One may say that it was too little too late, because in the evening of the same day (January 15^th, 2019) there were 202 eyes of the parliamentarians who looked to the right and 432 noses of the parliamentarians to the left: The Withdrawal Agreement is rejected. And to continue in the same metaphorical way, without taking any side, the mouth of Brussels asks now what London wants…. . Now you’re asking?! Where were your hears so far?

Oxford University Press Museum: A Free Guided Tour

by Laura Lai
January 15^th, 2019/ Review

What a treat today! It was a guided and free tour of the Oxford University Press Museum in Walton Street, where the University Press is located since 1830. It was first on Broad Street at the Sheldonian Theater (1669–1713) and then, also on Broad Street, but in the Clarendon Building (1713–1830).

First, the Oxford University Press Museum free guided tour is a 1-hour journey from paper to online. It starts with the first book printed in Oxford (1478), to the printing of the King James version of the Bible and Prayer Book (1675), a revisited version of the New Testament (1881), the world known Oxford English Dictionary (1884–1928), the Quarterly Journal of Medicine (1906), Oxford Advanced Lerner’s Dictionary (1948), Oxford Atlas (1951), Online Oxford English Dictionary (2000), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004, in 60 volumes and available online), etc.

Second, the Oxford University Press Museum free guided tour is a journey from a small staff in Oxford to a staff of almost 6000 people all over the world: From Theodoric Rood (1478, printer) and Joseph Barnes (1585, first official printer) to William Laud and the ‘Delegates of the Press’ (1633) elected for a 5-year mandate, meeting twice a month to decide on the publications' titles… to a staff of 6000 people in the whole world.

Third, this journey is from the first Oxford University Press in Oxford to a multitude of branch offices all over the world. The first branch office opened outside the United Kingdom was in the United States of America (1896). It followed soon the branch offices in: Canada (Toronto, 1904), Australia (Melbourne, 1908), India (Bombay or Mumbai, 1912), South Africa, New Zeeland, etc. The most recent ones are in China (Shanghai, 2002 and Beijing, 2009). And, most probably, with many others to come.

This visit tour at the Oxford University Press Museum is a chronological journey of the evolution of the Oxford University Press from its first published book in 1478 to nowadays, when thousands of new titles are published. This guided tour is an interesting 541–year historical journey of book printing. It is a treat. And a free one!

Sun, Sand & Romance

by Laura Lai/ Jan. 11^th, 2019/ Review

When I’m watching a movie on TV is usually on Paramount Channel; when I’m watching a movie on computer is most probably a Hallmark movie on YouTube. As I wanted to stay longer in the beautiful spirit of winter holidays, I came across the movie ‘Sun, Sand & Romance’ (2017), whose director is Mark Rosman.

The story focuses on a sequence of a couple’s life: that of Kate (Tricia Helfer) – a publishing executive – and of Eric (Scott Elrod) – a real estate agent. The film is the story of their first vacation together on a beautiful resort, whose Activities’ Director is Shep (Paul Campbell), Kate’s old high school boyfriend. At the first dinner together, in their first vacation together, Eric sees, at another table, a successful entrepreneur in this field, whose long time admirer he was. It seems like one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime-chance’ for Eric to meet his idol, Gus. While Eric learns from Gus, Kate spends time at the resort walking around with Shep. And at the end she needs to choose between Eric and Shep.

This film can be watched by all age categories and it can be framed in the category of holidays movies with a beautiful happy end, with marvelous images, which put the viewer in a holiday mood disconnecting it from the (sometimes very stressful) daily life.

The director of the film had the inspiring idea of envisaging Gus character as being interpreted by a black actor. It was an artistic formulation of a reality: the black people can also be success models. At its turn, Gus sees himself in Eric, which is another artistic formulation of people’s professional aspirations. Somehow Eric reminds him of himself when he was younger and curious, and willing to improve, and looking for a mentor. In his altruism, Gus wants to pass to the next generation his knowledge and he shares with Eric precious advices that are not taught in seminars.

It is this short and secondary role of Gus, which made me write this review. It is with this short and secondary role that the movie makes a big human point.