EU chief will discuss hard border and future strategy with Varadkar

EUROPEAN Counsel President Donald Tusk is to fly to Dublin tomorrow to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to preventing a hard border after Brexit, it is understood.

As the so-called ‘Irish question’ becomes the key stumbling block to the negotiations, Mr Tusk is to discuss strategy with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ahead of the Brexit summit on December 14.

It comes as the Irish government is planning a media blitz on British TV in a bid to counteract some of the negative reporting about the Republic that has taken place in the UK over recent days.

Brexit negotiations are now at a crucial moment with the UK ramping up pressure to have the talks move into ‘Phase II’.

Major progress has been made on the divorce bill and citizen’s rights which are the other two elements singled out for agreement in the opening round of negotiations.

However, the UK has failed to put forward an acceptable vision for how a frictionless border will operate once Northern Ireland is outside the tariff free customs unions.

Mr Varadkar said yesterday he does not think Ireland will need to use a veto to stall the Brexit negotiations. He said there is “solidarity” among the EU27 for Ireland’s need to prevent a hard border.

Some concerns have been raised that other EU countries will be keen to move into the next stage of negotiations if the first two issues are resolved satisfactorily.

However, Dublin sources said last night that Mr Tusk’s visit is a clear signal that the EU will continue to back the Republic.

And a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said: “This is further confirmation that the EU27 remains firmly supportive of Irish issues.”