Let’s be very clear what Barnier’s new comments mean.
1) Chequers is still dead. There’s no chance of single market in goods without free movement of people
2) Customs partnership also still dead. EU focusing on tech solutions for border in Irish Sea, not on island of Ireland
1) Chequers is still dead. There’s no chance of single market in goods without free movement of people
2) Customs partnership also still dead. EU focusing on tech solutions for border in Irish Sea, not on island of Ireland
That means we’re now switching to Irish Sea. How to reconcile May’s talk of no new economic barriers within UK and EU’s need to protect both its own economic integrity and the open border in Ireland? Provided EU gets both those assured, it can try to accommodate some UK anxieties
Although Barnier being coy, clincher is customs union. Namely, NI must retain same tariffs as Ireland. That means there must be some tariff collection between GB & NI, and NI must be exempt from UK’s new trade deals. Or whole UK stays in customs union. I don’t see any other way.
Varadkar’s comments that controls will be in Irish Sea, not on island itself, highlight point. London will protest till blue in face, but any economic division- no matter how subtle- will be intra-UK, not between NI/Ireland.
Can anyone guess how much Arlene Foster will love it?
Can anyone guess how much Arlene Foster will love it?
