BREXIT DEAL NOT BINDING
eu confirms davis comments on border are true
THE landmark deal that supposedly ensured there would be no return to a hard border is not legally binding, the EU confirmed yesterday.
A claim by Britain’s blundering Brexit Minister that the UK could walk away from it now appears to be true.
In a move which will infuriate the Irish Government, the European Commission yesterday said the UK had endorsed the “gentleman’s agreement” between David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier.
Mr Davis said on Sunday the last-minute deal agreed on Friday to allow trade talks to start was merely “a statement of intent”.
He retracted his comments yesterday morning telling the London’s LBC Radio the agreement would be honoured.
But it is understood he did so only after the Irish Government made it known it had serious concerns about his remarks.
ALARM
The European Commission’s confirmation that what took place on Friday was merely a “gentleman’s agreement” will cause further alarm in Dublin.
Speaking in Brussels, Commission spokesman Margaritis
Schinas said: “Formally speaking the joint report is not legally binding because it is not yet the
Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement, but we see the report of
Michel Barnier and David Davis as a deal between gentlemen.
“President Juncker met Prime
Minister May last Friday morning to ascertain this is the case. They shook hands.”
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire also insisted the deal is more than a statement of intent, telling RTE’S Morning Ireland: “The legal effect is given by way of the withdrawal agreement.”