Tusk says Brexiteers are in for a world of pain, it’s EU Industry Days again and Margrethe Vestager is not on the train. This week we are supported by EUROBAT.
This week’s Brexit nonsense is brought to you by, surprisingly not Theresa May in yet another embarrassing debacle, but by European Council President Donald Tusk. In THE tweet of the week he said, “I’ve been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted Brexit, without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely.”
I've been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted #Brexit, without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely.
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) February 6, 2019
Cue Brussels Bubble and Westminster meltdown. “Will it be inside or outside the infernal market?”, asked Cliff Taylor.
But will it be inside or outside the infernal market?? https://t.co/IaKXDIADlj
— Cliff Taylor (@CliffTaylorIT) February 6, 2019
Guy Verhofstadt doubts even Lucifer would welcome them, as they’d probably manage to divide hell.
Well, I doubt Lucifer would welcome them, as after what they did to Britain, they would even manage to divide hell ? https://t.co/AS367egjZP
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) February 6, 2019
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned Tusk the British press would give him “terrible trouble” for that.
Microphone picks up @campaignforleo warning @eucopresident: "they'll give you terrible trouble". Tusk nods and laughs pic.twitter.com/20xlTzqelM
— Georg von Harrach (@yourmeps) February 6, 2019
He wasn’t wrong. But Trumpton account reckons British newspapers complaining about ‘incendiary language’ is pretty funny.
British newspapers complaining about 'incendiary language' – funny
— Trumpton (@Trump_ton) February 7, 2019
Gareth Harding meanwhile has been waiting 25 years for an EU leader to say something quotable. It was worth the wait.
I’ve been waiting 25 years for an EU leader to say something quotable. It was worth the wait. ??? https://t.co/KkNzYo14aq
— Gareth Harding (@garethharding) February 6, 2019
Martini Seltzermayr, spoof account, noted that none of the prominent brexiteers have denied this description applies to them.
none of the promninent brexiters have denied this description applies to them, I’ll note https://t.co/yfvFnZRNts
— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) February 6, 2019
And Berlaymonster asked what we were all thinking. Why do they get to have a ‘special’ place?
By the way, why do they get to have a 'special' place?
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) February 6, 2019
British exceptionalism, quipped James Crisp:
British exceptionalism https://t.co/suvPHzNI8Y
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) February 6, 2019
And as dozens tried to imagine what this particular hell looks like.
— Matt Cartoons (@MattCartoonist) February 6, 2019
Jean Claude Juncker had a better answer. His job. It is a Hell.
Juncker asked about #specialplaceinhell for Brexiteers.
He says, "I am lot less Catholic than my good friend Donald..
I believe in heaven he says before adding the closest to Hell he has seen is working at the European Commission.
"It is a Hell," he jokes.
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) February 6, 2019
Alan Ferrier summed it up:
Donald Tusk is a carpenter's son from Poland. He grew up with gun battles on his street, ran with anti-communist gangs, was imprisoned by the Soviets and helped win Poland’s autonomy.
He has precisely zero fucks to give about Brexiteer Tories accusing him of “lacking manners.”— Alan Ferrier (@alanferrier) February 6, 2019
Elsewhere this week the European Commission celebrated EU Industry Day.
Sounds boring, but where else would you find acoustic interior panels, foldable high heels, bags made of ecological leather, modular clothing and fish clutch bags all in one place?
Have you visited the #COSME_EU funded projects at the exhibition area of the #EUIndustryDay?
*Acoustic interior panels
*Foldable high heels
*Bags made of ecological leather
*Modular clothing
*Clutch bags made of fish leatherLearn more … https://t.co/OODUc96vhN
— EUSciComm (@EUSciComm) February 7, 2019
Jyrki Katainen, Commission Vice President for Jobs Growth and Investment launched the Circular Plastics Alliance at the conference.
.@EU_Commission VP @jyrkikatainen launched the Circular Plastics Alliance♻️ at #EUIndustryDay?? today. The aim is to achieve 10 million tons of recycled #plastics by 2025. More on the Alliance: https://t.co/0rCqhKJxrb#PlasticsStrategy #PlasticPledges #CircularEconomy pic.twitter.com/Gk1cfVWo3Q
— Market,Industry&SMEs (@EU_Growth) February 5, 2019
And even Juncker took time out of his hellish schedule to attend saying, “There is no lack of talent in #Europe, no lack of ideas. And Europe’s industry drives our economy.”
“There is no lack of talent in #Europe, no lack of ideas. And Europe’s industry drives our economy.” – @JunckerEU’s full speech at the #EUIndustryDay here ?https://t.co/ScPtQmu7a3 pic.twitter.com/rUvMzdATDo
— Natasha Bertaud (@NatashaBertaud) February 5, 2019
Finally this week, Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager blocked the Siemens Alstom merger.
Vestager stated the merger “would have resulted in higher prices for the signalling systems that keep passengers safe and for the next generations of very high-speed trains.” https://t.co/0PuorEk0g1
— EURACTIV (@EURACTIV) February 6, 2019
Martini Seltzermayr was quick to warn If you’re thinking of doing a bad train metaphor joke, don’t.
If you’re thinking of doing a bad train metaphor joke, please do not. Tx #SiemensAlstom
— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) February 6, 2019
Too late! “They siemens rollin’, she hatin’”, said Sam Morgan.
They siemens rollin’, she hatin’
— Sam Morgan (@SamJamesMorgan) February 6, 2019
Nick Gutteridge had even more mixed metaphors. Choppy waters for the EU. This row will take the wind out of their sails.
Choppy waters for the EU here. This row will take the wind out of their sails.
— Nick Gutteridge (@nick_gutteridge) February 6, 2019
And Alberto Alemanno quoted Austrian commissioner Johannes Hahn, saying if Siemens do trains the way they do lobbying he won’t be taking one any time soon.
If Siemens makes trains the way it does lobbying, I won’t sit in [one of its] trains again
Johannes Hahn, Austrian commissioner #SiemensAlstom
@TheGoodLobby https://t.co/BtXenLbUrd— Alberto Alemanno (@alemannoEU) February 7, 2019
We need signalling systems to keep us safe & very high speed trains for climate friendly transport. Siemens and Alstom are champions in rail industry, but without remedies the merger would have resulted in higher prices, less choice & innovation, explained Vestager.
We need signalling systems to keep us safe & very high speed trains for climate friendly transport. @SiemensMobility and @Alstom are champions in rail industry. Without remedies the merger would have resulted in higher prices, less choice & innovation, so the merger is blocked.
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) February 6, 2019
Berlaymonster reckoned she was ruling herself out of that Commission president role.
Tune in now to hear Vestager ruling herself out of the Commission president role.#siemensalstom
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) February 6, 2019
And Spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber was also critical of the decision, calling it “a mistake.”
When our companies have to compete with giants double their size, only European champions have a chance in the world's economy. An ambitious Europe means defending European companies & jobs. Today’s announcement by the @EU_Commission on #Siemens & #Alstom is a mistake.
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) February 6, 2019
But Thomas Philippon said three cheers for Vestager and the Commission, adding the merger would have raised prices and hurt EU consumers.
Three cheers for #vestager and the EU commission! #SiemensAlstom merger would have raised prices and hurt EU consumers. Bogus "national champion" arguments are not the right answer to (allegedly) unfair Chinese competition.
— Thomas PHILIPPON (@ThomasPHI2) February 6, 2019
This week we are supported by EUROBAT, the association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers. They will be holding an Election Manifesto Event on 19 February on the future role of EU batteries and required policy framework for growth, jobs and innovation in Europe.
Looking forward to our Election #Manifesto Event on 19/2 and hearing from Dir-Gen @ristori20 of @EU_Commission and MEP @IsmailErtug on future role of EU batteries and required policy framework for growth, jobs and innovation in Europe. More info on https://t.co/4C2vYC5Jgz pic.twitter.com/MThurq4Dui
— Eurobat (@eurobat_org) February 6, 2019