Irish border must be part of Brexit deal says EU chief
BRUSSELS boss JeanClaude Juncker was last night accused of using Ireland as a bargaining chip in Brexit talks.
The European Commission President used a visit to Dublin to insist that Britain could not have a Brexit deal without agreement about future arrangements at the Irish border.
Mr Juncker pledged that fellow EU member states would not leave Ireland “isolated and alone” over the impasse.
Britain and Brussels remain at odds over how to deal with cross-border trade between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland after Brexit.
The EU has suggested a “backstop” to avoid construction of a “hard border” and keep trade flowing if alternatives have not been agreed in time, under which the North would remain in Europe’s customs area for an indefinite period.
Theresa May says that would put an unacceptable border between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain and instead proposes a time-limited backstop entailing the whole UK remaining temporarily in the customs union.
Mr Juncker assured Irish PM Leo Varadkar that the EU would not waver. “This is not a bilateral question between Ireland and the UK. This is an issue between the UK and the EU,” he said.
“We want to make it clear that Ireland is not alone. We have Ireland backed by 26 member states and the commission – this will not change.
“I am strongly against any temptation to isolate Ireland and not to conclude the deal on Ireland. Ireland has to be part of the deal.”
Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of Northern Ireland’s pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party said: “The Republic of Ireland is being used as a bargaining chip by the EU. The UK is a crucial market for Irish companies.”