David Phinnemore
@dphinnemore.bsky.social
Professor of European Politics, Queen's University Belfast. EU politics, treaty reform, enlargement, Brexit/Protocol/Windsor Framework
Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework next meets on 3 December 2025
Agenda as for October meeting, so still exchanging views on whether (and, if so, to what extent) EU's AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act should apply in Northern Ireland
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Agenda as for October meeting, so still exchanging views on whether (and, if so, to what extent) EU's AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act should apply in Northern Ireland
www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework next meets on 3 December 2025
Agenda as for October meeting, so still exchanging views on whether (and, if so, to what extent) EU's AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act should apply in Northern Ireland
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Agenda as for October meeting, so still exchanging views on whether (and, if so, to what extent) EU's AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act should apply in Northern Ireland
www.gov.uk/government/p...
On the Windsor Framework and the NI Assembly's 2024 Democratic Consent vote...
With @politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Open access via:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
With @politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Open access via:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
On the Windsor Framework and the NI Assembly's 2024 Democratic Consent vote...
With @politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Open access via:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
With @politicalquarterly.bsky.social
Open access via:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
'The government has said the financial package.... will provide a "single point of contact" to solve disputes and guide businesses on trading in NI.'
Follows reports and recommendations on Windsor Framework from Lord Murphy and from Independent Monitoring Panel.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Follows reports and recommendations on Windsor Framework from Lord Murphy and from Independent Monitoring Panel.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Budget 2025: NI businesses to get £16m in post-Brexit trade support
The chancellor will announce the package when she reveals the details of the Budget on Wednesday.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:44 PM
'The government has said the financial package.... will provide a "single point of contact" to solve disputes and guide businesses on trading in NI.'
Follows reports and recommendations on Windsor Framework from Lord Murphy and from Independent Monitoring Panel.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Follows reports and recommendations on Windsor Framework from Lord Murphy and from Independent Monitoring Panel.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly held its 6th meeting this week.
The recommendation agreed 👇
www.parliament.uk/globalassets...
The recommendation agreed 👇
www.parliament.uk/globalassets...
November 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly held its 6th meeting this week.
The recommendation agreed 👇
www.parliament.uk/globalassets...
The recommendation agreed 👇
www.parliament.uk/globalassets...
‘Under current rules, EU countries can spend up to 35 per cent of the rearmament fund with UK defence companies. If the UK joins Safe, this could rise as high as 50 per cent, but Brussels has said the UK’s contribution needs to reflect the benefits to British industry.’
www.ft.com/content/ba88...
www.ft.com/content/ba88...
Brussels slashes €6.7bn price tag for UK to join EU defence fund
European Commission cuts cost by two-thirds to €2bn but figure is still far above the €75mn Britain has offered
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM
‘Under current rules, EU countries can spend up to 35 per cent of the rearmament fund with UK defence companies. If the UK joins Safe, this could rise as high as 50 per cent, but Brussels has said the UK’s contribution needs to reflect the benefits to British industry.’
www.ft.com/content/ba88...
www.ft.com/content/ba88...
“Major differences remain between the two sides over the level of financial contributions the U.K. would need to make and the minimum mandatory share of components produced inside the EU, with senior British figures signaling they would not seek entry at any price.”
www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...
www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...
UK and EU hit impasse in defense deal talks
The EU wants London to pay between €4.5 billion and €6.5 billion to take part in SAFE, while the U.K. has offered €200 million to €300 million.
www.politico.eu
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 AM
“Major differences remain between the two sides over the level of financial contributions the U.K. would need to make and the minimum mandatory share of components produced inside the EU, with senior British figures signaling they would not seek entry at any price.”
www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...
www.politico.eu/article/uk-a...
Nothing like a communiqué being issued promptly!
Surely worth the wait…
Surely worth the wait…
November 18, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Nothing like a communiqué being issued promptly!
Surely worth the wait…
Surely worth the wait…
Reposted by David Phinnemore
and you can start reliving that trauma tomorrow by joining @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and @ukandeu.bsky.social to discuss tomorrow evening - sign up here. In person or online www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/six-mo...
November 18, 2025 at 7:52 AM
and you can start reliving that trauma tomorrow by joining @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and @ukandeu.bsky.social to discuss tomorrow evening - sign up here. In person or online www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/six-mo...
‘Negotiations are finally underway for Keir Starmer's much-hyped Brexit reset. Expect to relive some trauma’
www.politico.eu/article/brex...
www.politico.eu/article/brex...
Brexit reset gives Brussels and London a chance to squabble about cash … again
Rows over cash payments are already holding up negotiations, as deadlines loom.
www.politico.eu
November 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
‘Negotiations are finally underway for Keir Starmer's much-hyped Brexit reset. Expect to relive some trauma’
www.politico.eu/article/brex...
www.politico.eu/article/brex...
EU(27) today welcomed agreement on mandates for negotiations on SPS and ETS agreements with the UK
With a reminder: ‘as a matter of principle… relations can only be strengthened based on a full, faithful and timely implementation of existing agreements’
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/...
With a reminder: ‘as a matter of principle… relations can only be strengthened based on a full, faithful and timely implementation of existing agreements’
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/...
November 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
EU(27) today welcomed agreement on mandates for negotiations on SPS and ETS agreements with the UK
With a reminder: ‘as a matter of principle… relations can only be strengthened based on a full, faithful and timely implementation of existing agreements’
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/...
With a reminder: ‘as a matter of principle… relations can only be strengthened based on a full, faithful and timely implementation of existing agreements’
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/...
Late addition to today's ECOFIN Council.
It could have been left to General Affairs Council next week which is 'taking stock' of the state of play in EU-UK relations
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
It could have been left to General Affairs Council next week which is 'taking stock' of the state of play in EU-UK relations
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
November 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Late addition to today's ECOFIN Council.
It could have been left to General Affairs Council next week which is 'taking stock' of the state of play in EU-UK relations
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
It could have been left to General Affairs Council next week which is 'taking stock' of the state of play in EU-UK relations
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
“member states… also approved mandates for talks on an agri-food deal to ease cross-Channel trade frictions, and to link the EU and U.K. emissions trading systems.”
On whether the UK should contribute financially to…
www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
On whether the UK should contribute financially to…
www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
UK scores Brexit win as EU fast-tracks electricity trading talks
The breakthrough comes after days of wrangling in Brussels over the extent to which London might be expected to pay for access to the EU’s single market.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
“member states… also approved mandates for talks on an agri-food deal to ease cross-Channel trade frictions, and to link the EU and U.K. emissions trading systems.”
On whether the UK should contribute financially to…
www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
On whether the UK should contribute financially to…
www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
“So far, Starmer's reset has had plenty of warm words. Converting those into legal texts was always going to be the hard part.”
www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...
www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...
Brussels deadlocked over how to handle Brexit Britain
Talks will continue into Wednesday as member states remain divided over the question of U.K. payments into EU budget funds.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 AM
“So far, Starmer's reset has had plenty of warm words. Converting those into legal texts was always going to be the hard part.”
www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...
www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...
“Whether this government, or its successors, will be better able to communicate the value of… financial flows [to the EU] remains to be seen, but as long as it lacks a strong overall narrative for its EU policy this seems less than likely” - @simonusherwood.bsky.social
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-sleeping...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-sleeping...
The sleeping dog of UK-EU finances - UK in a changing Europe
Simon Usherwood explains financial flows between the UK and the EU since the UK's withdrawal and how they may be affected by the UK-EU reset.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:44 AM
“Whether this government, or its successors, will be better able to communicate the value of… financial flows [to the EU] remains to be seen, but as long as it lacks a strong overall narrative for its EU policy this seems less than likely” - @simonusherwood.bsky.social
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-sleeping...
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-sleeping...
EU(27) moving towards adoption of mandates for negotiations on SPS and ETS agreements with the UK.
data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...
data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...
November 11, 2025 at 7:12 AM
EU(27) moving towards adoption of mandates for negotiations on SPS and ETS agreements with the UK.
data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...
data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...
“The overall result for the six month period is that 96% of the value of goods moved under freight did so within the Internal Market system. The UK Government’s Internal Market Guarantee of 80% has therefore been met for this period.’
Caveats and recommendations
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Caveats and recommendations
www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
“The overall result for the six month period is that 96% of the value of goods moved under freight did so within the Internal Market system. The UK Government’s Internal Market Guarantee of 80% has therefore been met for this period.’
Caveats and recommendations
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Caveats and recommendations
www.gov.uk/government/p...
“Member states on Friday postponed signing off their mandate for [an SPS] deal and for the terms of the UK’s re entry to the single energy market...
“The delay was caused by divisions over whether the UK should pay into the EU’s regional funds…
“A majority…
www.ft.com/content/03ef...
“The delay was caused by divisions over whether the UK should pay into the EU’s regional funds…
“A majority…
www.ft.com/content/03ef...
Von der Leyen dodged Starmer request for meeting on EU money demands
European Commission president had ‘scheduling’ issues at COP30 summit in Brazil and did not meet the UK premier
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
“Member states on Friday postponed signing off their mandate for [an SPS] deal and for the terms of the UK’s re entry to the single energy market...
“The delay was caused by divisions over whether the UK should pay into the EU’s regional funds…
“A majority…
www.ft.com/content/03ef...
“The delay was caused by divisions over whether the UK should pay into the EU’s regional funds…
“A majority…
www.ft.com/content/03ef...
November 7, 2025 at 7:33 AM
From the EU-UK ‘Common Understanding’ in May:
“32. The SPS Agreement should provide for an appropriate financial contribution from the United Kingdom to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area.”
“32. The SPS Agreement should provide for an appropriate financial contribution from the United Kingdom to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area.”
EU demands UK pay into budget as part of relationship ‘reset’
Growing tension between London and Brussels just six months after summit set out to build stronger ties
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM
From the EU-UK ‘Common Understanding’ in May:
“32. The SPS Agreement should provide for an appropriate financial contribution from the United Kingdom to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area.”
“32. The SPS Agreement should provide for an appropriate financial contribution from the United Kingdom to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area.”
Out today, the findings of latest polling of NI voters' views on Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU relations.
While most voters in Northern Ireland are either generally accepting or supportive of the Windsor Framework, overall support has weakened...
www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...
While most voters in Northern Ireland are either generally accepting or supportive of the Windsor Framework, overall support has weakened...
www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...
October 24, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Out today, the findings of latest polling of NI voters' views on Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU relations.
While most voters in Northern Ireland are either generally accepting or supportive of the Windsor Framework, overall support has weakened...
www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...
While most voters in Northern Ireland are either generally accepting or supportive of the Windsor Framework, overall support has weakened...
www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-b...
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...
"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...
Urgent action needed to fix overwhelmingly complex Windsor Framework arrangements, Lords Committee warn - Committees - UK Parliament
Today the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee publishes its first report following its inquiry on Strengthening Northern Ireland’s Voice in the Context of the Windsor Framework, issuing a strong...
committees.parliament.uk
October 15, 2025 at 6:26 AM
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...
"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...
Coverage striking for omitting any mention of some EU(27) Foreign Ministers attending and that meeting is part of the Berlin Process designed to 'increase cooperation between the Western Balkans Six and the Berlin Process host countries as well as the EU'. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Yvette Cooper hosting Balkans security summit at Hillsborough
It will focus on preserving security and stability in the Western Balkans.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Coverage striking for omitting any mention of some EU(27) Foreign Ministers attending and that meeting is part of the Berlin Process designed to 'increase cooperation between the Western Balkans Six and the Berlin Process host countries as well as the EU'. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NI as testbed for UK to demonstrate it can meet obligations towards the EU.
www.ft.com/content/7238...
www.ft.com/content/7238...
EU warns UK must improve NI border checks before veterinary deal is signed
Officials say London must comply before it can start serious talks on a sweeping agrifood agreement
www.ft.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:01 AM
NI as testbed for UK to demonstrate it can meet obligations towards the EU.
www.ft.com/content/7238...
www.ft.com/content/7238...
Interested in what voters in Northern Ireland currently think about Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU relations?
Join @katyhayward.bsky.social and me on Friday 24 October as we present the findings from our latest polling with @lucidtalk.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexi...
Join @katyhayward.bsky.social and me on Friday 24 October as we present the findings from our latest polling with @lucidtalk.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexi...
Post-Brexit Clinic at Queen's - October 2025
Join us online for our latest Post-Brexit Clinic for updates on the Protocol/Windsor Framework.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Interested in what voters in Northern Ireland currently think about Brexit, the Windsor Framework and UK-EU relations?
Join @katyhayward.bsky.social and me on Friday 24 October as we present the findings from our latest polling with @lucidtalk.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexi...
Join @katyhayward.bsky.social and me on Friday 24 October as we present the findings from our latest polling with @lucidtalk.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/post-brexi...
📢 Call for Proposals
CES is pleased to invite submissions for its 32nd International Conference of Europeanists, to be held in Dublin, June 16–18, 2025.
For more information about the Conference Theme and how to apply visit: councilforeuropeanstudies.org/conferences/...
CES is pleased to invite submissions for its 32nd International Conference of Europeanists, to be held in Dublin, June 16–18, 2025.
For more information about the Conference Theme and how to apply visit: councilforeuropeanstudies.org/conferences/...
October 8, 2025 at 10:02 AM