Enda elated as EU summit’s ‘Kenny text’ puts Ireland top of agenda

ENDA Kenny pulled off an astonishing diplomatic coup last night when he secured EU support for possible Irish reunification and backing of Irish interests during the Brexit negotiations.

At a European Union summit in Brussels, leaders unanimously approved guidelines for negotiations on Brexit including a commitment to protecting Ireland’s interests.

All 27 EU leaders guaranteed the North could rejoin the EU as part of a united Ireland.

The declaration in relation to Ireland was referred in Brussels

‘Mr Kenny punched the air as he left’

yesterday as the ‘Kenny text’, indicating how important this agreement will be for the Taoiseach’s legacy.

Britain, which voted to leave the EU last June, was excluded from the talks. Its Prime Minister, Theresa May, was campaigning in England yesterday – and she did not comment on the implications for the future of the North.

The EU leaders took just one minute to approve the guidelines before breaking into applause. A delighted Mr Kenny punched the air as he left the meeting – and, for once, his much-teased penchant for hand gestures was justified.

He said the guidelines fully reflect Ireland’s concerns and that the statement on a united Ireland was ‘hugely important’. The declaration paves the way for the North to automatically become part of the EU if it votes to join the Republic.

Mr Kenny said: ‘The only new thing here is Brexit and we need to ensure it doesn’t undermine the Good Friday Agreement. This is not about triggering any mechanism. I have been consistent in my view that the conditions for a referendum do not currently exist.’ Yet, this is the first time a united Ireland is mentioned in an EU communique.

The Brexit negotiations will deal first with the rights of EU citizens in Britain and British citizens on the continent, Britain’s financial obligations to the EU, and issues surrounding Ireland and the border.

The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier told the leaders he hopes to see sufficient progress on these issues to start talks on Britain’s future relationship with the EU as early as October this year.

Angela Merkel praised the unanimity of the EU leaders.

The declaration on Ireland states: It says: ‘The European Council acknowledges that the Good Friday Agreement expressly provides for an agreed mechanism whereby a united Ireland may be brought about through peaceful and democratic means.

‘In this regard, the European Council acknowledges that, in accordance with international law, the entire territory of such a united Ireland would thus be part of the European Union.’

However, the statement to be agreed on Irish unity is more striking. It echoes the experience of East Germany after German unification in 1990, and says it will simply be recorded as a ‘statement for the minutes’, the equivalent of council conclusions at a formal summit. Former Northern Ireland first minister David Trimble said yesterday that there was no need to include a passage on the possibility of a united Ireland, as it would only ‘stir up nationalist feeling’.

The former Ulster Unionist leader said: ‘From the point of view of the Irish there is no need to introduce this, it’s actually playing games with nationalist feelings and I wonder why the Irish Government is doing this and why Europe is going along with it.’

‘It would only stir up nationalist feelings’