EU savages PM’s Irish blueprint (surprise)

BRUSSELS tried to sow disarray in Brexit talks yesterday by tearing apart Theresa May’s customs plan.

Setting out a list of objections, EU negotiators said the Prime Minister’s proposal to keep the UK temporarily tied to the bloc’s rules would fuel fraud and leave key questions ‘unanswered’.

Michel Barnier’s team said the plan failed in its main goal of preventing a ‘ hard border’ in Northern Ireland.

Officials working for the EU chief negotiator also questioned how the plan could be temporary, despite guarantees by Mrs May that it would end in December 2021.

In a presentation to EU diplomats, they also hinted that the ‘complex and unprecedented’ UK proposal was an underhand attempt to draft a trade deal under the auspices of a solution on the Irish border.

The criticism will be seen as an attempt by the European Commission to stamp its authority as EU member states weigh up how to respond to the UK’s plan.

Diplomats from the bloc’s remaining 27 member states will hold a frantic series of meetings this week to formulate a response, with a new round of talks with the UK pencilled in for next week.

The European Commission believes its so- called ‘ backstop’ plan to effectively separate Northern Ireland from mainland Britain is a more effective solution. However, the proposal has been described as unacceptable by Mrs May, who insists the backstop is unlikely to be needed in practice.

It came as Brexit Secretary David Davis met Mr Barnier in Brussels, where he raised concerns about the bloc’s approach over a future trade deal with the UK.