Regarding negotiations and "what we get", it is very possible that EU negotiators have long since heard the story that has been doing the rounds abroad for decades. It is told as a description of a nation's character.
"Some men in a harbour saw a man fall overboard some distance off-shore. One leapt into his boat and headed out to save the unfortunate soul in the drink. The rest watched as the boat reached the man, the one aboard it was clearly in communication with the head in the water but the fellow in the water kept swimming away. Ultimately the boat headed back to shore. On arrival back in the harbour he explained the guy out there refused to come into the boat "I kept asking him to give me his hand and he refused" said the would-be saviour in frustration.
One of those at the harbour asked if he knew which nationality the victim was - English was the reply. The former leapt into the boat and headed back to the head in the water and as the others watched on, within seconds of reaching the man the boat was on its way back with him on board.
When they came to shore the others wanted to know how the second saviour had done it. "Simple", he said. "I told him to take my hand and he immediately grabbed it".
I then heard a far more succinct piece of advice that conveys the very same sentiment: Count your fingers after shaking an Englishman's hand.
The negotiations may not be quick or straight forward.