What Deal Does the EU Want From Brexit? - Brexit Explained

There's been a lot of talk, on this channel and elsewhere, about what kind of Brexit deal the UK wants. There's been significantly less conversation about what the EU wants out of it. So in this video, we discuss what the EU27 want from Brexit (and more specifically what France, Germany and Ireland are looking for).

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[TLDRnews]

JUST A QUICK NOTE: I just wanted to acknowledge and agree with all of your criticisms about the use of the phrase 'Irish Stubbornness'. I'm sorry if language used distracted from the video & caused any offence. I agree that the whole mess was started by the UK and on the most part the EU27 are trying to accommodate and protect themselves, rather than being 'stuborn' - Jack

[dave]

We've got a new verb in the polish language, brexitować ("to brexiteer"), which means announcing one's departure but not leaving.

Sample sentence: "That drunkard started complaining about the food and brexiteering, but didn't leave until the housewife kicked him out"

[Pyriold]

My perception about the german stance on brexit is, that people are just tired about that topic. The general public has adopted a stand back and see stance on that. Most germans think that the whole idea of brexit is just silly.

[ArLeS]

Italy here. We don't talk much about Brexit, as we are dealing with a lot of... let's say "internal struggles" to keep it neutral.

[SeanBeag]

As an Irish person, I see the pain inflicted by no deal as something that will be temporary. It will push us closer to a United Ireland and preserve our connection to the EU, which I see as more important than our connection to the UK.

[lordweird]

I'm pretty disappointed with the mentality in which you discussed Ireland in this video. I genuinely have had to do a triple take on that segment as I'm very unused to hearing such a high level of arrogance come from someone I have come to respect.

I'm sorry to say that it is absolutely inappropriate, inflammatory, irresponsible and above all, flatly incorrect - to throw the blame for a No Deal at the feet of "Irish Stubbornness".

I note that you're essentially saying it as an almost throw away comment or half finished thought, skipping to your conclusion that 'the pesky Irish must be acting as a nuisance, but oh they'll be sorry when *they* force a hard border', without a proper logic test to your statement.

You don't pose anything tangible that the Irish are apparently being stubborn against.

It seems like you're suggesting Ireland can just agree to not have a border with the UK in the event of No Deal? Getting rid of the backstop? And if they don't do that, then No Deal is their fault and they're going to get the hard border that they don't want? And that'll teach those paddy's not to bite off their nose to spite their face?

Let me explain why that is unreasonable, bizarre and impossible..

If Ireland does not implement some sort of checks with goods coming from the UK via Northern Ireland, it would be completely threatening the single market, disobeying WTO rules and jeopardising its own position within the EU.

Unless, you're suggesting something you've talked about before in your videos, moving the EU border to be between the whole Island of Ireland and the EU? Is Ireland reluctance to agree to this being understood by you as just being stubborn? Because I've seen your videos. I know that you know that is a ridiculous suggestion. - So again, I'm really struggling to see why you've seemed to dull your wits in order to take up this position.

It is disheartening to see that the logic devoid, blame game mentality of Brexit has seeped into this channel. I can only purpose that you've picked up this "stubborn Irish" lark from UK media, but I encourage you to hold yourself to a higher standard.

It would be great if you could consider whatever position you are actually trying to convey here. Perhaps clarify, and hopefully apologise for the rhetoric and set the record straight.
✌️♥

[CawCahMilish]

Ireland here: I disagree with your stance on the irish border problem. You attitude seems to be very typical of most British news outlets, that the irish are simply being difficult and "stubborn". What you dont seem to understand is the back stop is a vital part of peace here. Irish people fear the introduction of a hard border because blood was spilled last time there was one. The British seem to forget this. Maybe because the casualties were on our island not in London. A hard border will without a doubt bring back violence and it is violence we will have to deal with. The GFA was made to ensure peace, which it did. Destroying this agreement destroys peace. Something Westminster seems to care little about.

[liamereiam]

I'm a Brit that lives in Germany, where they don't really follow the Brexit implications as much as I do. However, they do think BoJo is an absolute joke & that the UK has gone mad.

[dertomtom]

"Johnson verweigert Treffen mit EU-Regierungschefs"(focus online today) In Germany, most people think: we are no longer able to help, they are crazy. Go with God but go! ..
... but leave the silverware nicely where it is.

[lianamyers]

... did you just blame the irish for the complications caused by Brexit? "If irish stubbornness causes a hard border" NO NO STAWP the cause of all this was the U.K. vote, you don't get to say irish stubbornness caused any of the consequences for this.

[Meggobro]

Please dont blame Ireland for border problems, its very disrespectful considering all we've been through in our history

[ciaran]

Irish stubbornness? I'm fairly certain Ireland doesn't want a civil war in the north again and the DUP is a reason why the back stop isn't approved

[fgryson]

"Irish stubbornness" is one of the more questionable takes you've had and shows a clear British bias in your perspective on this, it's successive intransigence from British politicians that is preventing progress on the Irish border issue. Not to mention the poisoning of Anglo-Irish relations as a result of the galling insensitivity of members of your government, in particular Priti Patel's consideration of starving Ireland out until we surrender. Ireland has acted with nothing but patience and consideration which may have been undeserved.

[TheFuddFactory]

I am a Brit who lives in Sweden. Most of the swedish people I speak to don't know much about Brexit but the ones that do think it's stupid and blame Britain 100% for the mess.

[alexandruscarlat]

I actually disagree with how you guys seemed to place the Irish border issue at the feet of the Irish. It is not their fault that the English have planted the seeds of hate between the Irish, all they want now is that the GFA is respected and I think it is up to the UK to solve the mess they have made. Please don't make it seem like the Irish are to blame here.

[IrishHistorybyFreyaGunhild]

Two things I need to say. 1: The Irish border is in the Irish sea, the northern Irish border is an enforced British border on the island of Ireland. 2: It is not Irish stubbornness, the backstop is of English design. We do not want the troubles to start off again, and there is a very strong possibility of that. And my friend it's British arrogance and colonization that has caused and will cause trouble again. Thank you.

[aoifewalsh]

I'm from Ireland and Brexit is largely regarded as extremely negative here, no matter who you ask and how knowledgeable they are on the topic.
Currently, a lot of us are concerned about Boris Johnson as PM, namely because of his blatant ignorance in regards to the socio-political history of Ireland, the Troubles and the sense of entitlement held by both him and his cabinet that Ireland should answer to them, rather than to the EU. In the UK, Ireland isn't viewed as another separate country as such; it is more frequently viewed as an extension of the UK. Many British politicians, particularly ones close to BJ, state that Ireland's shared history with the UK should mean more than Ireland's current membership of the EU. They say that our similar cultures, shared language and history makes our relationship more important than Ireland's relationship to the EU - disregarding that the reason for our shared language and similar cultures stems entirely from British oppression. Quite often throughout history, many British MPs saw Irish people as upstarts, who disagree with them to cause trouble; such views were held since before the Plantations and still ring through til today, especially evident in many of the articles written about Ireland and Brexit by British media, shaming Leo Varadkar for being a 'puppet of the EU' rather than bebding to their will.

[philipberthiaume]

Irish stubbornness??!!! This is a UK initiative and a massive UK problem. The Irish question is addressed in the Belfast accord which was recommitted to by the UK in 2017. We here in North America will value peace in Ireland far more than any brexit.

[RKNGL]

I think the EU wants a "Just get on with it already Brexit".

[thankyouforyourcompliance]

Germany here: We have lost interest in Brexit. Even on economic terms it makes no sense while the British lack of enthusiasm for the political dimension of the EU is not beneficial to stability, peace and cooperation within Europe. We simply do not understand the notion of leaving the EU and regard this as childish and backwards oriented. Over the last 2 year the UK administration has lost its credibility and therefore it makes no sense to make a huge effort to keep them in the EU. Certainly it will hurt the economy and the strength of the EU as a global force but a constant internal struggle with an egocentric, short-term oriented flip-flopping member would hurt the group much more.
Additionally we see that jobs in the service sector will migrate to the EU. Either to Ireland, Netherlands or even to Germany. The UK government was ill adviced to focus on their minor production sector and ignore the flexibility of their major service sector.


Edit: Referencing Mr. Hunt for the German position makes no sense. He simply has no clue.