Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/BloombergMembers of the European Parliament have warned that a diplomatic spat with London could weigh on their decision to approve the EU-UK trade deal. One MEP accused the UK of being “petty” and “taking another leaf from the Trump playbook” by refusing to grant full diplomatic status to the EU’s embassy in London. The row over the UK’s intention to treat the EU’s embassy in London the same as international organisations – without full diplomatic privileges and immunities – blew up last week after a leak of letters to the BBC. The UK is the only country out of 143 to deny the bloc full diplomatic status. While MEPs can’t change the deal, they can put pressure on the European Commission to raise certain issues via EU-UK joint committees.

Source: Irish Independent January 29, 2021 02:34 UTC