Brian Doherty
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brianedoherty.bsky.social
Brian Doherty
@brianedoherty.bsky.social
Legal Aspects of Euro integration exGov.LegalService
-Ir. Centre for Euro.Law
-"Le Foyer des Artistes" classical music ensemble- Derry base. Players &Performance- continental &beyond
-Farming/GlensofAntrim/Trout/Trees/IrishSetter/SeaSwimming/ Travel&more
Brussels floats ‘emergency’ powers to raise €210bn from Russian assets - www.ft.com/content/3c23... via @FT
Brussels floats ‘emergency’ powers to raise €210bn from Russian assets
Contentious proposal to fund Ukraine would mark watershed moment for EU
www.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM
In late 2028, Starmer should announce that joining the single market will be the 1st act of a second-term Labour government. on current evidence, and with a few more years of demographic churn, it is plausible that an electoral plurality will vote Labour on a rejoin basis
www.ft.com/content/ef94...
The rise of unpopular populism
On birth rates, the lockdown and above all Brexit, the right is out of touch with the public
www.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
"Negotiators are aiming to finalise a deal by January that would allow the UK to participate in Erasmus from 2027 onwards, according to two UK and EU officials."

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK aims to secure agreement to rejoin Erasmus student exchange scheme
Britain quit EU programme after Brexit, when Boris Johnson claimed it did not offer good value for money
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
"Backing a customs union would represent an explicit manifesto breach... and would also risk damaging relations with Donald Trump... Yet the longer Starmer’s woes persist, the more voices will urge him, as in 2018, to tear up the script."

www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Keir Starmer’s European opportunity
Why government insiders are urging the Prime Minister to embrace a customs union with the EU
www.newstatesman.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Failure to join EU rearmament fund shows UK stuck in post-Brexit strategic cul-de-sac

www.irishtimes.com/world/2025/1...
UK stuck in post-Brexit strategic cul-de-sac
EU and Canada seek greater autonomy from US, while Britain highlights ‘number one spear carrier’ role for Washington
www.irishtimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
EU can produce twice as many electric cars as needed, says study - www.ft.com/content/c1bd... via @FT
EU can produce twice as many electric cars as needed, says study
Also in this newsletter: How delays may be holding up challenges against EU competition decisions
www.ft.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
Amid ongoing chatter in London about some Labour figures wanting to go further in EU relations, what does Brussels think of the UK... I've drawn a typical consensus view based on many conversations including with the few there who really care...

encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
Everything Brussels really thinks about the UK
Mostly, the Brussels bubble does not consider the UK too much. That rather amorphous group of those working in and around the institutions whether for government or other organisations, that…
encompass-europe.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
EU must become minimally vulnerable to US pressure that will not stop coming
It is time for a European policy plan for EU-US decoupling with steps to minimise the harm Maga America is able to inflict on Europe
Such a plan must cover at least three areas: trade, finance and defence
on.ft.com/4p9DpAk
Europe needs a plan for decoupling from America
The EU must make itself minimally vulnerable to inevitable US pressure
on.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
Putin has signed Russia’s 2026 budget, allocating at least $166 billion to the war against Ukraine, one-third of all spending and the highest military outlay since the Soviet era. To fund it, Russia slashed social programs.
November 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
Andrii Yermak’s resignation will be weaponised in Moscow and in parts of DC.

But many see it as proof that Ukraine’s institutions work - even while fighting an existential war.

My analysis on RTÉ's 6-1 News ...
November 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The EU should play its Russian assets card
But it is time for the EU to act. At stake is not just Ukraine’s survival but the future of European security
on.ft.com/43ZhymV via @FT
The EU should play its Russian assets card
There are ways to overcome a Belgian block and provide game-changing support to Kyiv
on.ft.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
Is Trump trashing the rules-based international order, or was that always a liberal myth?
International law is weak law which political leaders sometimes forgive their friends for breaking, but it embodies universal values worth fighting for
derrickwyatt.substack.com/p/is-trump-t...
November 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
Brexit reminders. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Brexit may not be in the headlines, but many current news stories carry reminders of it, including the Hallett Inquiry report, the Gill scandal, the Budget & the latest net migration figures: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/brex...
November 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
How many of us have been saying this, for what seems like ages? The writing was in the wall back in 2014 when Obama and Biden 'declined' to back calls for a NATO or, at least, coalition presence in Ukraine to deter a full-scale invasion attempt.

But who listens to warnings from analysts anyway? 🤷‍♂️
The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism
Washington’s Putin-appeasing plan for peace in Ukraine has failed, but many heard death knell sounded for European reliance on US protection
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM
“How can you address a woman in [the media] profession as ‘Piggy?’” he said. “I think that if people are not willing to accept basic principles of courtesy that are there to enable discourse, you are moving into the realm of hatred and it is at its roots racist.”
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
Michael D Higgins rounds on Trump for ‘piggy’ remark and lack of courtesy
At Other Voices festival in Kerry, former president warns of ‘anti-intellectualism’ threat to peace
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Clear, focused approach needed to deliver progress during EU presidency

www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...
Clear, focused approach needed to deliver progress during EU presidency
Role gives Ireland a unique opportunity to strengthen relations between European Union and United States
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:38 PM
‘A compelling offering’: Why Ireland is the ideal US-EU business bridge

www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...
‘A compelling offering’: Why Ireland is the ideal US-EU business bridge
Ireland is seen as perfectly placed for US multinationals seeking access to Europe
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Nearly a decade after the referendum and five years after the UK’s exit from the EU, the economic and political price of Brexit is all too clear. However, its chief proponents do not seem to be paying the political price
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...
The Irish Times view on the UK budget: the long shadow of Brexit
Nearly a decade after the referendum and five years after the UK’s exit from the EU, the economic and political price is all too clear
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"Northern Ireland is facing “significant risk and uncertainty to animal health, to farming, to pet owners” because of post-Brexit changes to the supply of veterinary medicines which come into force on January 1st, a Stormont committee has heard"
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
‘Significant uncertainty’: Vets in North worried at post-Brexit rule changes on medicines
Exemption allowing medicinal products to be supplied from Britain expires within weeks
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
"Under current rules, EU countries can still spend up to 35 per cent of the rearmament fund with UK defence companies thanks to a bilateral security partnership signed in May. If the UK were to join Safe, this could rise as high as 50% and UK businesses could lead on contracts"
on.ft.com/4p41LeK
UK talks to join EU defence fund break down
Discussions fail after Britain refuses to pay billions of euros in fees
on.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
The NIHRC Annual Human Rights Statement 2025 Launch is taking place on Monday 8 December from 12.30pm - 2pm, as part of #NIHRF.

The keynote address will be delivered by Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC.

Find out more and register to watch the livestream here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/annual-hum...
November 28, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Net migration to UK plummets by 2/3rds
Net outflow of EU&UK citizens in the year- majority of the UK citizens leaving under 35yo.
High earners & entrepreneurs eligible for UK settlement in as little as three years, while others will be forced to wait up to three decades
on.ft.com/4p1MuLr via @FT
Net migration to UK plummets by two-thirds to 204,000
Immigration falls sharply in the year to June alongside slight rise in people leaving
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Brian Doherty
This (from: www.ft.com/content/75ce...) is something you can *feel* if you are in the UK, especially if you've experienced living abroad. But infuriatingly successive governments and our entire media are somehow absolutely committed to suggesting anyone who wants to change this is the devil...
November 21, 2025 at 7:38 AM