BORDERING ON A DEAL
»»eu and Britain in transition agreement »»Backstop in place to stop hard frontier »»tanaiste pleased with talks progress
THE North will continue to be aligned to EU regulations after Brexit until the UK finds a better solution for keeping an open border.
The agreement struck yesterday ensures there is an emergency “backstop” in place to avoid a hard frontier.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said this “decisive” deal will apply “unless and until another solution is found”.
The agreement is expected to allow negotiations to progress to dealing with other important divorce treaty issues such as future trade.
But no definitive deal has yet been reached on the right operational approach to avoid a hard Irish border, the EU’S draft agreement showed.
There was a positive reaction yesterday to the talks between Mr Barnier and Simon Coveney with the Tanaiste describing the move as “good progress”.
And the EU’S chief Brexit negotiator emphasised that the Irish border remains high on the agenda and is a “distinct” part of a Brexit deal.
Speaking after a weekend of late-night negotiations, Mr Barnier said: “We have reached an agreement on the transition period.
“We have agreed that the backstop solution must form part of the legal text of the withdrawal agreement.”
He said the landmark deal would see a transition period last for almost two years until December 31, 2020.
Speaking during a joint press conference in Brussels with the UK’S Brexit Secretary David Davis, Mr Barnier added: “What we are presenting to you today, here with David, is a legal text.
“A joint legal text which constitutes in my mind a decisive step because we were able this morning to agree, and after all those days and nights of hard work, on a large part of what will make up an international agreement for the
TWITTER YESTERDAY
ordered withdrawal
Kingdom.
“A decisive step remains a step, we are not at the end of the road and there is a lot of work still to be done on important subjects including Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
On Friday, European leaders are set to meet in Brussels when it is expected they will formally allow talks to progress on to the next stage.
Mr Coveney said the agreement between the European Union and Britain on a Brexit transition period represented “good progress” and made the British commitment to address Irish issues clearer.
He posted on
Twitter: “Good progress today of the United on Brexit. Still a lot of work to do but commitment to address Irish issues are clearer in documents published today.”
The EU and UK agreed to maintain the necessary conditions for continued North-south cooperationin the areas of environment, health, agriculture, transport, education and tourism.
It also includes energy, telecommunications, broadcasting, inland fisheries, justice and security, higher education and sport.
One of the stumbling blocks so far to an outright agreement is Theresa May’s DUP allies are opposed to any deal creating a difference between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin yesterday stressed that there needed to be caution in response to the EU and UK transition agreement.
He said: “While the so-called ‘backstop’ technically remains in place we appear to be no closer to any solution on how it will work in practice.
“So Theresa May has agreed it, ruled it out, now ruled it back in again. It doesn’t inspire confidence.”
Still a lot of work to do but commitment to Irish issues are clearer in documents SIMON COVENEY