The Brexit negotiations are starting to feel like Groundhog Day
If you've been away and haven't been paying close attention to the Brexit negotiations you've missed nothing, writes Mark Stone.
Wednesday 30 August 2017 13:59, UK
David Davis arrived in the European Commission building just before 5pm. His car left again at just after 6pm.
He'd spent a little over an hour inside with his opposite number Michael Barnier for the start of this third round of Brexit negotiations. By last night he was back in London.
Government officials are defensive and spiky when asked about the Brexit Secretary's apparent reluctance to spend any time in Brussels actually negotiating with the EU. His timetable was similar for the previous two rounds.
Officials point out, correctly, that Mr Davis leads a team of 100 who remain in Brussels doing the legwork with their counterparts from the EU.
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As a minister of state, Mr Davis is required for meetings in London. He'll be back in Brussels on Thursday for a joint news conference with Mr Barnier where they will update us on how the third round went.
I watched closely as the two men met in the VIP corner of the Commission's Berlaymont Building on Monday.
They talked briefly on the other side of the glass doors from where the cameras and reporters were gathered. The smiling and small talk was an attempt at displaying positive body language.
"Maybe, maybe" were the only words the microphones picked up: Mr Davis' response, accompanied by a forced guffaw, to an out of earshot comment by Mr Barnier.
It all felt very superficial. Mr Davis was trying harder than Mr Barnier.
And that sums up the Brexit talks right now. Britain is being forced to try harder than the EU side because the EU holds all the cards.
The inflexible structure of the Article 50 withdrawal treaty means the EU side runs the show, calls the shots, sets the (short) timetable - we're out in March 2019 regardless of the deal (or lack of) that's reached.
The EU isn't budging on its demand that three divorce issues (Northern Ireland's border, citizens' rights and the financial contributions the UK owes the EU) must be settled before there can be any discussion on the future relationship.
The UK justifiably says that's not realistic. How, for example, can you define what the Northern Irish border will look like if you don't yet know what the future customs relationship will be?
Britain wants flexibility. Brussels wants commitments, especially on money.
If the UK was prepared, now, to commit to plug the hole it's leaving in the EU budget over the next few years, that may prompt the EU side to be more flexible on other issues.
But flexibility is not something Mr Barnier can offer. He is mandated by the leaders of the EU member countries. It's a rigid, inflexible mandate.
So it will be up to Theresa May to persuade her fellow leaders to give a little, not up to Mr Davis to press Mr Barnier.
Until Mrs May can apply pressure at leader level, or commit on the money issue, the two sides will remain at loggerheads.
If you've been away for the summer and not been paying close attention to the Brexit negotiations, you have missed nothing.
"It sounds like Groundhog Day, gentlemen" I shouted as they two men finished their brief statements. I didn't expect a reply. But honestly, it's hard to see how they could disagree.