As for Brexit, David Allen Green, who I have always found a great aid and very informative, wrote this. Worth a read surely:
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It has not gone unnoticed in Ottawa that Britain and US, Canadaās two traditional allies, both have permanent seats on the UN Security Council, yet it was the outgoing German representative who raised the matter of Chinaās hostage diplomacy with Kovrig and Spavor. From our point of view, the US is not the reliable ally it has been, and our natural response should be to draw closer to Europe - with the logical institution being NATO despite the US presence. On that basis, the timing of Brexit is deeply unfortunate.
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I know very little of such things such as NATO etc. Iām still catching up with UK politics for one but I have always feared that the US, it always seems to be them these days, starts a war and expects everyone else to back them up. Bit like Iraq first time round. I honestly thought Trump would do the same being such an idiotic fuckwit that he is.
Even now I fear getting too close to America. Especially now to be honest. The place is broken. We are also broken and diving into bed with another fractured state will not help matters at all.
It is. It is a symbiosis after all.
On another, entirely different note,was just discussing Brexit with a guy on discord and claims the EU folded on their red lines and that it is a strategic victory on all fronts. Bit disappointing, I have discussed with him before, but I donāt even know where to start when he obviously swallows the spin on twiter.
But before Trump, both US parties were adamantly behind NATO. There wasnāt a question about that. Before Trump, a pact would never have been broken, would have been unthinkable really.
Now, reality looks different. Former matters that were never questioned are now being questioned and people who were previously 100% sure that the alliance would come to ones aid in a real war, are now no longer 100% sure, which is a tragedy since these matters hinges on trust.
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Understood and thanks.
My concerns are therefore not strictly NATO related, more where the UK goes in the next few years and future rekationships. To me the US is broken but the UK is also in a really dangerous place politically.
I think we have more trouble to come.
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The full text of the UK-EU trade agreement:
Happy reading!
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Just looking at the summary, what are peopleās thoughts on the non recognition of qualifications? On the face of things unless you want to work solely within the UK your hard earned qualification may count for jot elsewhere.
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I suspect theyāll count, just not automatically.
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To begin with but I would expect that to erode with time
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Countries like Russia or China take notice too. They see the rift which has begun to develop between the US and Western Europe, and will of course try to widen it.
Hence the importance for the EU to build up a respectable army at this point. Iām far from being a militarist, but I just donāt see how it can be avoided.
If you want peace, prepare for war.
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Seems complicated. Hereās a summary on it from The Guardian:
" Professional qualifications
From accountants to ski instructors, before Brexit the British qualifications of UK citizens who work abroad in EU countries were recognised across all member states.
Now, though, things will change and it will become harder for UK citizens seeking to work in the EU to prove that their qualifications are the equivalent of those recognised elsewhere in Europe.
This is a setback for the UK. Proposed drafts from the British side clearly show it wanted mutual recognition of qualifications.
āThe UK had originally asked that the EU would agree that UK qualifications would be automatically recognised, perhaps subject to a further test if necessary,ā said Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. āInstead, what we have is a framework that allows for qualification bodies in the EU and the UK to put forward a proposal for mutual recognition to exist in the future.ā
This is similar to what the EU has permitted under other trade agreements. But Lowe is not convinced of its merits. āIt relies on fairly protectionist ā often private ā bodies deciding to recognise each othersā ability to grant qualifications in a specific field.ā
However, the UK did agree an important caveat. In the absence of an EU-wide agreement, Brussels will allow UK bodies to pursue other ways of agreeing the mutual recognition of qualifications on a bilateral basis. So, a UK-based qualification body working with its counterpart qualification body in an individual member state ā say Ireland or Germany ā may be able to negotiate its own agreement.
But there is no guarantee of success. These talks could be complex, protracted, and only achievable on a country-by-country basis."
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I wouldnāt be too concerned when it comes to the larger EU member states and particularly those with more respectable higher education systems and less corrupt political institutions but itās a definite weakness with others although equally it provides the UK with greater protection than it would otherwise have within the EU.
I wouldnāt have thought it will be an immediate difficulty but mutual monitoring will be bound to create potential conflicts, albeit oneās that will act as safeguards in the majority of cases.
Wouldnāt the qualifications which are already being recognised as equivalent just continue to be recognised going forward for those who have already achieved those qualifications and for those who will study the same courses.
I donāt think so (not automatically, as outlined before), but maybe someone can correct me on that
Unlikely as there may be insurance and indemnities that come into play.
The last paragraph in the Guardian article posted by @anon27364116 is interesting though. For example I am a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers which is a highly regarded qualification world wide. Now that qualification carries no professional weight in Europe. My signature could no longer be part of certain design certification processes. But it is possible for the ICE here in the UK to agree some equivalencies with the corresponding German (say) body and getting some new certificate that way.
Itās going to be yet another ball ache and in all honesty another step back for the UK.
I also wonders how this now works for say Doctors qualified in Europe coming to work in UK. Just wave them through I guess.
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It only affects civil service jobs (Public sector and jobs where a recognised diploma is required like doctors working in private clinics) (like teaching, nursing ā¦) the private sector can hire who ever they like (at least in France) and recognise what ever diplome they like. Though it can be quite frustrating getting recognition if you need it.
It does mean the UK can now diverge from the European convergence of diplomes you know have a show of sovriengty over it.
But in my industry there is a lot of work done on government projects or the like which will demand a certain qualification for signing off on work. I suspect itās similar in medicine, health and possibly education as well. It wouldnāt surprise me if law was in the same boat.
Yes I also thought after writing my initial reply thereās a lot of health and safety certificates these days (though these can be picked up whilst working under someone who already has them and often take just 2 weeks or part time over 6 months though they cost).
If the workis contracted out the āprivateā contractor can employ whoever they wish when it comes to qualifications as far as I know (as long as the employee has the necessary work permits).
Heās clearly qualified, though often not recognised (enough) 
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