Welcome to Tweets of the Week. Protests at Schuman, French grant cut’s inhuman and UK-US trade deal is loomin’.
First up this week it’s Rule of Law take two with protests against developments in Turkey and Poland taking place at Schuman roundabout.
Wife of imprisoned human rights activist Ali Gharavi spoke at the Amnesty International organised demonstration
Wife of imprisoned human rights activist Ali Gharavi speaks at @amnesty #Brussels demonstration to #FreeRightsDefenders in #Turkey pic.twitter.com/VUUDNJqKZf
— DW | Europe (@dw_europe) July 25, 2017
That called on Federica Mogherini defend human rights when meeting the Turkish Foreign Minister
We are here in #Brussels calling for @FedericaMog to tell #Turkey to #FreeRightsDefenders when she meets the Turkish Foreign Minister later pic.twitter.com/Pox4NB4DNF
— Amnesty EU (@AmnestyEU) July 25, 2017
Police meanwhile stepped in to guard the Polish embassy as protesters sang the national anthem
Police guarding Brussels embassy while protesters sing national anthem to support protests in Poland #PolandDefendsDemocracy #PulseforPoland pic.twitter.com/KlLJYPqKTU
— ??Martin Mycielski (@mycielski) July 23, 2017
And Polish MEP Michal Boni showed this sign: no democracy without active citizenship
#PolandDefendsDemocracy Key message! @TimmermansEU – thanks @EU_Commission 4 strong message @HennaVirkkunen pic.twitter.com/Ev9t7zR5q1
— Michał Boni (@MichalBoni) July 26, 2017
Across the Atlantic, toddler in chief, Donald Trump tweeted about a possible trade deal with UK.
Working on major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom.Could be very big & exciting. JOBS! The EU is very protectionist with the US. STOP!
Working on major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. Could be very big & exciting. JOBS! The E.U. is very protectionist with the U.S. STOP!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2017
Financial Times columnist Edward Luce pointed out that it is not possible to work on until terms of Brexit are known
Not possible to work on a trade deal with U.K until terms of Brexit are known – perhaps after 2019. Haven't your advisors told you this?
— Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) July 25, 2017
Although others said they could ‘informally’ negotiate them without a formal sit-down meeting.
They can 'informally' negotiate them. If there's a formal sit-down meeting, UK is violating EU/Customs Union rules.
— Andrew (@Optimaximal) July 25, 2017
Alice Stollmeyer said it’s amazing how autocrats Putin, Erdogan & Trump just REVERSE REALITY & accuse others of what they are doing themselves.
Amazing how autocrats Putin, Erdogan & Trump just REVERSE REALITY & accuse others of what they are doing themselves.#protectionism #TTIP
— Alice Stollmeyer (@StollmeyerEU) July 25, 2017
Others mused on what such a trade deal would involve…
Craig Green suggested it would be a great way to get rid of Nigel Farage.
We will even throw in @Nigel_Farage to sweeten the deal ?. We insist, you guys have him!
— Craig Green (@CraigGreen87) July 25, 2017
And Jay Holz stood up to defend both Marmite and Branston Pickle….
I'll have you know we are the proud manufacturers of both Marmite and Branston Pickle….
— Jay Holz (@JayHolz1) July 25, 2017
…which is a great excuse for us to show this image again:
#Brexit summed up in food after Article 50 pic.twitter.com/e5jtWO4YLZ
— E (@esheikh_) March 29, 2017
And since we’re showing pictures of food…
Consider this:
5€ dans le budget d'un étudiant ? #APL pic.twitter.com/xmKl6042Cr
— Merry Laballe ✏️ (@MerryLaballe) July 24, 2017
That’s what five euros can buy a French student…
The same five euros that French President Emmanuel Macron wants to cut from the APL – a grant to help students with the cost of living in big cities.
Rival politicians were quick to get in on the act: Jean-Luc Mélenchon displayed his purchases in the assembly
Pour protester contre la baisse des APL, Jean-Luc Mélenchon brandit 5 euros de courses dans l’Assemblée
https://t.co/FKJbbeNn1P pic.twitter.com/M7ty8QexBk— les inrocks (@lesinrocks) July 26, 2017
And Benoit Hamon described it as “revolting” particularly as the richest in society are getting a tax cut.
Baisse des APL perçues par les plus modestes et réduction de l'ISF payé par les plus riches. C'est révoltant. #M1717
— Benoît Hamon (@benoithamon) July 22, 2017
This week we are supported by medef, find out more about their summer university following the hashtag #Uemedef17.
And that’s it for another week and in fact another month, yep it’s a wrap folks!
Yeah, looks like that's a wrap folks! pic.twitter.com/RGSRQCVY7G
— Jennifer Baker (@BrusselsGeek) July 24, 2017
We’ll be back again on the 1 September: happy holidays!