NEW: EU Commission writes to EU Council on Johnson letter:
-Says backstop is "necessary, legally operative solution in the Withdrawal Agreement...we regret the new UK govt wants to replace a legally operative solution with a commitment to try to find a solution-yet to be found-"
-"The EU also regrets that the new UK govt does not provide any concrete proposals as to what these alternative arrangements could be. His letter recognises that there is no guarantee that such arrangements will be in place by the end of the transition period."
-The letter confirms the Commission is "ready to work constructively within our mandate. We will analyse any operational UK ideas that are compatible with the existing WA. We are of course ready to rework the Pol Declaration in line with EU Council guidelines."
Emphasis there on "operational", ie they need to bring us something which works.
EU sources also rallying against Downing St suggestion WA doesn't adhere to the Good Friday Agreement. They say backstop is the only means identified so far by both parties which honour the commitment to no hard border, as entered into at the start of the negotiations.
They also say it's inorrect to say backstop is not democratic or that Northern Ireland would have no influence over the legislation which applies to them, saying that has already been dealt with in joint protocol entered into in March.
-Also says that Johnson's suggestion that there are two separate political and legal systems on the island already and ergo easy to manage is misleading as EU law underpins the regimes on both sides. Without that checks and controls become necessary to protect the single market.
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