[Sephiroth]

On this business of the representative status of the EU: Is the EU a state or an international organisation?

Clearly it is an international organisation because it derives its competences from the 27 member states. Simples.

Accordingly, the 27 states have ambassadorial diplomatic missions in the UK. The EU cannot enjoy that status - only that of an international organisation. Simples.

The moment that the UK accords ambassadorial status to the EU is the moment that we recognise the EU as a state - that would be a state without a police force, without an army and without the principal competences associated with a nation state.

So, I'm enjoying the howls of protests coming from that pompous organisation.