So who thinks they can explain what has actually happened with the EU and The Falkland Islands?

[cakeorwine]

Various media groups and no doubt some columnists seem upset about something the EU has done.

Can anyone explain what they think the EU has done and whether we should be upset about it?

I think on the past they were happy Falks belonged to U.K. After talks /visit to S America they are neutral.

called them the Argentian name not the British name?

They need to leave them alone they made their choice

I think it comes from this

Declaration of the EU-CELAC Summit 2023 (europa.eu)

13. Regarding the question of sovereignty over the Islas Malvinas / Falkland Islands, the European Union took note of CELAC's historical position based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful solution of disputes.

So the EU take note of the historical position of Islas Malvinas / Falkland Islands...

They take note of it....but what does that actually mean?

They used the Argentinian name for them in some document related to an agreement with the south American version of the EU. The UK government threw a strop because the British name wasn't used. I'm now waiting for the UK government to announce that they will be using the real names for other non-british places rather than the english names, seeing as they don't like it when it's the other way round.

Born and bred Falkland Islanders consider themselves British, and (almost) all British stand by that. Given our forces travelled half way round the planet to save our fellow subjects/citizens from foreign invaders, along with much loss of life on both sides, the name Falkland Islands should most definitely stand.
EU are just upset because UK dumped them like a shite lover

Would anyone in Derry care to comment?

When the UK was in the EU, whenever the question of what to call The Falkland Islands came up, the UK would use its influence for that name to be used. The UK is no longer in the EU so this time in considering the name question, the EU chose the Argentinian name for the islands because that would be advantageous to the EU's relations with Argentina.

Some people are having a fit but it's effectively Brexit in action.

Exactly this. Another Brexit bonus.

Who cares about some islands thousands of miles away anyway. No idea why we still have them.

Well, I care. The islands were uninhabited when Europeans first came across them and the current population are of British extraction. They don't want to be annexed by Argentina, a country with which they have no connection and which tried to take the islands by force in 1982.

It looks like both names were used.

Which is probably a diplomatic thing to do.

The people who live there should get to decide their name and nationality.

We call Bombay Mumbai now, ditto lots of other places around the world.

I'm interested in why it's ok for Deutschland to be called Germany, Koln Cologne etc.

It's not just the Argentinian name. Any Spanish speaker calls them 'Las Malvinas'

The EU were just trying to appease the South Americans because it was in their economic interests to do so. I don't know why anyone would expect them to do anything else tbh. We are not part of the EU any more so they don't owe us anything, and there is no need whatsoever for the EU to take sides in a territorial dispute between two third countries.

When we were in the EU, it was different. Now, it has nothing to do with them so they can say what they like.

As the person from Derry noted, and given the comments by the Prime Minister about the large national park in south east Wales, perhaps the UK government should look in the mirror before criticising others on this.

It's not particularly important and doesn't change anything. The declaration is studiously neutral.

But the EU would have been well aware that using the Argentinian name would delight Argentina and give them an opportunity to poke fun at the UK. And it demonstrates the UK's choice to give up some of its influence in international politics.

According to the FT:
British diplomats requested that European Council president Charles Michel “clarify” the bloc’s position after Buenos Aires trumpeted a “diplomatic triumph” following a summit of EU leaders with Latin America and the Caribbean (Celac) leaders on Tuesday, according to EU and UK officials. But the request fell on deaf ears. “This was agreed by 27 member states and the Celac countries,” said an EU official. “We cannot issue a statement on their behalf.

The EU Commission can only act on a mandate from the Council of Ministers. When the UK sat on the Council of Ministers it would never have allowed a mandate for this. It's decided to give up it's seat at that particular table.

They are called the Malouines in French because whalers and sealhunters from St Malo (Malouins) frequented them and the first settlers were French who had sailed from St Malo.

I think only the British care about this. I'm in the EU and haven't heard anything about it apart from in one UK paper. It's just boring anti-EU sentiment from people who chose to leave then got salty about it as far as I am concerned.

Yep. Spot on.

The EU used the name the Argentinians wrongly use, probably as a poke in the eye to us. I'm getting sick of the way the EU has behaved towards us since Brexit. I was a remainer but now I never want to rejoin.

I would say in light of whats happened politically and historically, it was incredibly undiplomatic

Um the people who live there. I was there in March and the people who live there have the right to self determination as do Gibraltararians.

It's an amazing place and stunning scenery and wildlife.

Incidentally I also visited a few places in Argentina with its huge rate of inflation etc. Why would islanders choose to be governed by what until recently has been a relatively unstable regime like much of sth America was.

Wow, there's some real thickos on this thread.

Both names were used in the backpedal.

Over 99% of the inhabitants of the Falklands wish to remain as a UK overseas territory as of their last referendum.

And yes, the British do care about this because they live there?

I'm dissapointed we didn't have a seat at the table to rebutt this because of Brexit. I'm also slightly annoyed that the EU have decided to use that as a stir to provoke the UK. It's petty and silly and spiteful. And potentially dangerous, don't put it past a Tory government to rekindle the Falklands conflict for votes.

I'm interested in why it's ok for Deutschland to be called Germany, Koln Cologne etc.

Like London being called Londres?

You mean Derry/ Londonderry?