More on that hearing by EU officials on the Alternative Arrangements Commission report. The European Commission said any alternative arrangements designed to replace the backstop would have to meet five tests.
Any alternative arrangements would have to
1: avoid a hard border
2: comply with the EU customs code
3: comply with EU principles (ie, Ireland has to be full member of SM)
4: comply with WTO rules
5: must protect the all-island economy
The Irish official briefing the working party said the AAC report risked a reductionist approach, ie only looking at avoiding border infrastructure, but not protecting the SM and all aspects of the GFA
However, there was a welcome that the UK was “finally engaging” on the issue
If a new PM proposes the AAC ideas they’ll be held against the five tests. Also the EU-UK strand will also have to comply with the five tests, acc to a source present
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