1/8: This thread reflects without attribution comments that struck me from #British and #German representatives in last week’s bilateral #Konigswinter conference, illustrating the different mindsets and, for all the good will between us, the challenges ahead..

2/8: German: bilateral relations are important but will change. They will operate in a different context. There is a danger of us drifting apart. The outcome of UK/ EU negotiations will have an impact in determining how strong our bilateral cooperation can be.

3/8: German: France, UK, Germany cooperation in the E3 will be important but will need a justification. It will be harder if there is no comprehensive EU/UK agreement to serve as a framework.

4/8: German: where will the UK be? Will it want to be a close partner with a structured relationship with the EU? Or primarily a competitor? What framework will there be? Germany will need a different mentality to adapt to a new engagement with the UK.

5/8: British: the UK economy operates as a European nation, but our trading relationship with the #EU will change as our economies change. Fundamentally the EU path and UK popular feeling were always going to diverge.

6/8: British: now that we are leaving we need to take our responsibilities as an independent nation. We must show that we can and will exercise flexibilities. We will follow rules “our own way”. This is a challenge for the EU.

7/8: British: we need to get the benefits of additional sovereignty and flexibility: short term pain is worthwhile in order to achieve long term benefits. We prize the autonomy to potentially regulate in a different way.

8/8: British: this UK government seems not to be seeking a structured relationship with the EU; it prefers bilateral relations. Future governments may be interested in building a more strategic framework. This will be a long term task.