Off Topic The Politics Thread
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Trump administration downgrades EU mission to US
The Trump administration has downgraded the diplomatic status of the European Union's delegation to the United States, an EU official has confirmed to DW. The demotion happened at the end of last year without notice.
The unannounced move by the US State Department, which has not previously been reported, downgraded the EU delegation's diplomatic status in Washington from member state to international organization.
"We don't exactly know when they did it, because they conveniently forgot to notify us," an EU official who is familiar with the matter told DW in an interview.
"I can confirm that this has not been well received in Brussels," the person said, adding that the issue and an official EU response was still being discussed. Meanwhile EU officials in Brussels said on Tuesday that per protocol, the diplomatic rank of David O'Sullivan, the EU's ambassador to Washington, had been reinstated.
After the delegation noticed that the EU's Washington ambassador had not been invited to certain events late last year, officials organizing the state funeral for President George H.W. Bush provided final confirmation to EU diplomats that the status of the representation had in fact been downgraded. Diplomats believe the downgrade must have been implemented in late October or early November.
At the high-profile event on December 5, as diplomats gathered in Washington to pay their respects, O'Sullivan, was not called up in the usual chronological order from the longest-serving to the newest ambassador, said the EU official. "But he was called up as the last person."
Prior to the demotion, O'Sullivan — who has served as the EU's ambassador to Washington since 2014 — would have been ranked among the first 20 or 30 ambassadors of the more than 150 foreign representatives dispatched to the US capital.
The Trump administration has downgraded the diplomatic status of the European Union's delegation to the United States, an EU official has confirmed to DW. The demotion happened at the end of last year without notice.
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The unannounced move by the US State Department, which has not previously been reported, downgraded the EU delegation's diplomatic status in Washington from member state to international organization.
"We don't exactly know when they did it, because they conveniently forgot to notify us," an EU official who is familiar with the matter told DW in an interview.
"I can confirm that this has not been well received in Brussels," the person said, adding that the issue and an official EU response was still being discussed. Meanwhile EU officials in Brussels said on Tuesday that per protocol, the diplomatic rank of David O'Sullivan, the EU's ambassador to Washington, had been reinstated.
After the delegation noticed that the EU's Washington ambassador had not been invited to certain events late last year, officials organizing the state funeral for President George H.W. Bush provided final confirmation to EU diplomats that the status of the representation had in fact been downgraded. Diplomats believe the downgrade must have been implemented in late October or early November.
At the high-profile event on December 5, as diplomats gathered in Washington to pay their respects, O'Sullivan, was not called up in the usual chronological order from the longest-serving to the newest ambassador, said the EU official. "But he was called up as the last person."
Prior to the demotion, O'Sullivan — who has served as the EU's ambassador to Washington since 2014 — would have been ranked among the first 20 or 30 ambassadors of the more than 150 foreign representatives dispatched to the US capital.
That’s for me to know and you to guess.you can tell me
dont think you have been wrong on anything
ever
You’ll guess wrongly, of course.
May try it again but wearing mother’s dress
Interesting comments from Ken Clarke on Sky saying he thinks there now could be a 'No deal' as they won't vote for May's deal so unless the EU budge (which they say they won't do) we are heading out on March 29th. It's not only him now as others are starting to say the same.
A bit stupid how the Worlds 5th biggest economy can't get a deal.... or could it be the other side not being able or wanting to adapt?
A bit stupid how the Worlds 5th biggest economy can't get a deal.... or could it be the other side not being able or wanting to adapt?
I did say that they counted my mate and his family who were out shopping. 
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politic...rch-attended-third-number-organisers-claimed/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politic...rch-attended-third-number-organisers-claimed/
There are serious reports today that the EU powerhouse, Germany, is heading for recession, due largely to the effect of Trump's trade laws on manufacturing imports to the US. Ireland is also waking up to the fact a no-deal with the UK would hit it harder than any other country. Other countries like Netherlands and Denmark are also beginning to worry about the effects on their economies of a no-deal Brexit.
Irrespective of what Soubry and Yvette Cooper and other's of the EU's useful idiots in our Parliament voted for last night, it still does appear as though no-deal is the most likely outcome, as the default position when there is no overall support for anything else (a second referendum vote is unlikely to deliver a Remain result for those supporters, particularly if the UK may have to financially carry the rest of the EU while Germany sorts out its financial problems).
If we go for no-deal, I am absolutely convinced that the EU would come back with an offer that's far better than May's sell-out deal. We just have to prepare and hold our nerve. Meanwhile the likes of Soubry, Cooper, Grieve etc will, in their capacity of agents of the EU, do their best to prevent a good Brexit deal for the UK
Didn't think we'd see much worse than a knifeman murdering a dad in front of his 14 year old son over a trivial argument. Last night, three men jumped out of a car and murdered a 14 year old boy on a bike. We really do have some psychopaths walking amongst us pretending to be ordinary citizens
I would think it was almost certainly gang related. It’s getting far too common now.
Yes, looks like the death yesterday was gang related. There seems to be a basic lack of respect for life which has not been seen in this country for centuries. Sure, we've had gangs - the Krays, the Richardsons etc - but you could count those on one hand. There's a knife culture in large parts of the younger population that's becoming endemic - all across London and spreading to other parts of the country.
It’s spread mate, the area I work in saw numerous stabbings on New Year’s Eve and it looks set to continue. Many of these don’t make the headlines as they don’t cause death but are still traumatic for all concerned.
I’ve said it before, until we get tough on these scum and hand out sentences that act as a deterrent then it ain’t gonna stop.
Caught carrying a blade should, IMO, mean 5 years without parole and no chance of early release. Might make a few stop and think and maybe stop 1 or 2 deaths over things as petty as being from the wrong postcode.
I did hear about the recession fears in Germany. mmm that will cause a few problems for the EU.
I also hear that one of the parties in Germany are campaigning to leave the EU and are gaining support. Who would have thought that.
Poland are the latest country to be having a run-in with the EU. People need to open their eyes to this organisation.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/08/poland-prime-minister-accuses-the-eu-of-discrimination.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...eptic-alliance-for-eu-elections-idUSKCN1P304V
A no-deal Brexit will have no impact on the flow of truck traffic through Calais port, the terminal's boss, Jean-Marc Puissesseau, insisted on Wednesday while lashing out at British plans to create alternative ferry routes.
https://www.politico.eu/article/cal...create-new-brexit-trade-routes-disrespectful/
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1...esa-May-port-delays-BBC-Today-Calais-Dover-EU
So all those people who said there would be 20 mile queues were actually talking rubbish? It seems that day by day Project fear is being debunked.
I think it's about time that May stepped down and someone new sorts out getting a free trade deal with the EU without all this rubbish.
https://www.politico.eu/article/cal...create-new-brexit-trade-routes-disrespectful/
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1...esa-May-port-delays-BBC-Today-Calais-Dover-EU
So all those people who said there would be 20 mile queues were actually talking rubbish? It seems that day by day Project fear is being debunked.
I think it's about time that May stepped down and someone new sorts out getting a free trade deal with the EU without all this rubbish.
