Barnier: Boris’s backstop plan is unacceptable
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned the Brexit deadlock was no nearer to being broken because Boris Johnson’s plans to scrap the Irish backstop are “unacceptable”.
Mr Barnier yesterday cast doubt on the likelihood of a new Brexit deal being agreed before Britain’s scheduled departure from the bloc on October 31.
He said Brussels could not agree to the Prime Minister’s demand to ditch the controversial border plan without a serious alternative.
“I am sure you understand this is unacceptable,” Mr Barnier told reporters in Berlin.
Charm
European Union sources said no proper alternative for the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic that ensures the integrity of the EU single market and customs union has been yet proposed.
Mr Barnier added: “Based on current UK thinking, it is difficult to see how we can arrive at a legally operative solution which fulfils all the objectives of the backstop. It is in a very sensitive and difficult phase.” His remarks came as Mr Johnson embarked on a charm offensive with European leaders last night to thrash out a Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister was due to hold talks with Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel in New York.
During three-way discussions with the French president and German chancellor, Mr Johnson was expected to outline his plans to replace the Irish backstop.
He also met EU President Donald Tusk and the President-elect, Belgian prime minister Charles Michel, at the UN General Assembly.
Speaking ahead of last night’s meetings, Mr Johnson said: “I don’t think it’s yet the moment to say we’re going to get this over the line.”
He said he was hoping EU leaders would have a “broader understanding” of how “forward-looking and forward-leaning” the UK has been with its suggestions for replacing the Irish backstop. He said there was
interest in his proposals for the island of Ireland to be treated as a single zone for agri-food purposes, but acknowledged there were “still gaps and still difficulties” which needed to be resolved.
“That, we think, is a helpful suggestion. I hope that colleagues will see that that’s a concession we’re making,” he said.
Following the meeting with Mr Tusk, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The leaders discussed the progress of the talks between the UK and Taskforce 50 in finding an alternative to the backstop that protects the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and the single market.
Gaps
“The Prime Minister emphasised that in order to secure a deal we will now need to see movement and flexibility from the EU.”
Earlier Mr Johnson said he was “cautiously optimistic” about securing a Brexit deal.
Speaking on the flight to the US, he said it was “very encouraging” that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had said he was not wedded to the mechanisms of the backstop.
He added: “We will be pushing ahead, but there is still work to be done.”