'No Appetite For Article 16 From UK'-Eurasia Group

Mujtaba Rahman at Eurasia Group tweets a thread on EU-UK relations in wake of Foreign Sec Liz Truss taking over UK lead in negotiations. Select comments below:

• "[...] the EU side admits to being “charmed” by Truss last week. She will now meet Maros Sefcovic in Bxl next Monday. Despite - or because of - the madness in Westminster, things are looking up for UK/EU. Truss has already markedly improved atmospherics. [...] Question for EU is impact this will have on substance.
• "[...] focus of talks - E-W trade, customs, SPS - already indicative of diff approach. Truss unlikely to re-litigate constitutional questions over ECJ or demand its removal from NIP. Yes this is a demand of hardline Brexiteers & DUP. But UK sources concede there is little pressure on the issue from the public or businesses in NI. It was elevated by Frost to create pre-text for triggering A16. With political & econ mess in UK, no appetite for A16 anymore. "
• "EU understands Truss will have to win some concessions from Bxl she can sell to ERG - something they want/will try to accommodate. But senior EU officials also clear this more likely to come from tweaks & clarification to concessions already tabled in Oct - not big new package."
• "Truss' challenge then, will be to make a much better job of selling in a more positive & pro-active way what’s already on table to Tory MPs. [...] I understand Truss left Chevening convinced a deal cd be done. She seems to have concluded that “getting Brexit done” is a better political play for her than ongoing conflict with EU"