Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
UK TOLD: STAY CLOSE TO EU
Leo in call to protect Irish jobs & avoid hard border
THE UK should stay as close as possible to the EU after Brexit, Leo Varadkar said yesterday.
The Taoiseach added the “enormous” trade between Britain and Ireland should be protected to ensure Irish jobs.
But he said it was up to No10 to propose a solution on the vexed border question if it rejected plans put forward by European leaders.
Yesterday the 27 EU member states meeting in Brussels adopted guidelines for future EU-UK relations after the separation in a year’s time.
Mr Varadkar said: “The UK has decided to leave the EU. The best way we can get a good outcome for Ireland is to make sure we have an agreement that keeps the UK as close to the EU as possible.
“That is the best way to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and also the best way to protect the enormous trade that occurs between Britain and Ireland, and that is so important for Irish jobs and our economy, and agriculture in particular.”
He said everything, including the border, had to be agreed by October.
Mr Varadkar added: “If they cannot agree to it at least put forward alternative options that allow the same outcome.
“We have put one on the table backed up not just by us but by the entire EU.”
European Council president Donald Tusk said EU chiefs wanted to see positive momentum in the talks to finalise a solution avoiding a hard border.
He added: “Leaders will assess in June if the Irish question has been resolved and how to go about a common declaration on our future.”
European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker is to visit Ireland in the coming months.
Mr Varadkar said a backstop, meaning Northern Ireland continued to follow EU rules relating to North-south issues and the all-island economy, was now part of the deal and talks between Irish and UK officials would be held in Brussels on the text of the protocol over the border.
Little agreement has been reached on the detail of measures to avoid a hard frontier with checks on goods and services.
Unionists have opposed any solution that would create differences between Northern Ireland and Britain and Prime Minister Theresa May is reliant on DUP support in key Westminster votes.
We’ve put a proposal on the table that is backed by the EU LEO VARADKAR BRUSSELS YESTERDAY