Brexit m oves on, but still we have no real answers on how to stop a border
Backstop is key ‘unless and until’ UK puts forward solution
QUESTIONS over the Irish Border are no long being “kicked into the long grass” after a draft plan for the UK’s departure from the EU was agreed, Tánaiste Simon Coveney has insisted.
However, there is still no clarity on what style of border will be adopted after Brexit officially kicks in on January 1, 2021.
A series of meetings between the UK and the EU taskforce are planned between next week and mid-April in a bid to fully define the so-called ‘backstop’ that will apply in the event of a hard Brexit. Both sides hailed yesterday’s agreement on the draft wording as a “decisive step”, but appeared to put forward differing views as to what has been agreed on Ireland.
And Opposition parties are warning the UK attitude “highlights in very clear and stark terms the gulf in understanding between the British government and the EU as to what a backstop actually means”.
Fianna Fáil’s Brexit spokesman Stephen Donnelly said: “There were three layers of protection in the December agreement between the EU and the UK. Two of these layers now seem unlikely, meaning that ensuring no hard border on our island comes down to the backstop.”
In recent weeks, Theresa May said “no British prime minister” could agree to the backstop proposed by the EU.
But Mr Coveney said last night the December deal, which would effectively see Northern Ireland retain EU regulations after Brexit, still stands.
“There’s an understanding that an overall withdrawal agreement will not be finalised and agreed without a legally operational backstop in place.
“At some point in the future that may or may not be replaced by something better,” he said.
It comes ahead of a meeting between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today and a full meeting of EU leaders on Thursday.
Demands
At a joint press conference, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary David Davis put forward a positive image of the latest developments. Mr Davis said his side understands the Irish demands for a “legal text detailing the ‘backstop’ solution for the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in the withdrawal agreement”.
“But it remains our intention to achieve a partnership that is so close as to not require specific measures in relation to Northern Ireland, and therefore we will engage in detail on all the scenarios set out in the joint report.
“We have also reached consensus on the full set of issues which need to be addressed in any solution in order to avoid a hard border, which is why, last week, we set out a work programme to tackle them.
“There are also some elements of the draft protocol – such as the common travel area – on which we agree. So while there is as yet no agreement on the right operational approach, we know what we need to do – and we’re going to get on with it,” he said.
Mr Coveney said the UK is committed to “no physical infrastructure on the Border”, but added: “We haven’t seen anything like an agreement that is comprehensive to do that. That’s why we have insisted on having the backstop in place.”
Mr Barnier indicated the Irish question remains high on the agenda, saying it forms a “distinct” element “within the framework” of a Brexit deal.
“The backstop will apply unless and until another solution is found,” he said.