@davidallengreen @FT It's a good article and interesting questions. Some thoughts:
Yes, the backstop per se was not something the EU insisted on from the beginning - but it insisted from the beginning on there being no hard border in Ireland, and that's what the backstop is for.
Yes, the backstop per se was not something the EU insisted on from the beginning - but it insisted from the beginning on there being no hard border in Ireland, and that's what the backstop is for.
@davidallengreen @FT After the referendum, it still seemed plausible that the UK might stay in the customs union (Norway or Turkey model), in which case a backstop of course wouldn't have been needed and or become an issue.
@davidallengreen @FT Only when it became clear that the UK was intent on ultimately leaving the customs unions, the question of how to ensure a soft border in Ireland became really salient. And that's where the idea of the backstop popped up.
@davidallengreen @FT So I think, while technically that the backstop wasn't part of the initial position of the EU, the goal behind it very clearly was (I remember the EIU's three priorities from the outset being integrity of single market, FoM rights of EU citizens in the UK & the Irish border).
@davidallengreen @FT You're probably right that the backstop is a rather inelegant and intrusive solution to this problem and I believe even the EU wishes there was another way (even the often ridiculed high-tech solutions would be acceptable, as long as it worked - but it simply doesn't so far).
@davidallengreen @FT As to why this matter is so important, @APHClarkson set it out: A core principle of the EU is that they show solidarity and support for all their members on questions they regard as of essential national interest. The border, clearly, is such a matter for Ireland.
@davidallengreen @FT @APHClarkson Therefore, the EU institutions and other 26 may have all sorts of ideas and preferences in this question, but they're rightly very clear on their commitment to unequivocally back Ireland.
@davidallengreen @FT @APHClarkson I, as an Austrian, don't dare judge what a good solution for the border could entail. But I am convinced (and I think so are most fellow Europeans in the EU) that the Irish should get our support and solidarity. And yes, even if this could ultimately mean a no deal Brexit.
@davidallengreen @FT @APHClarkson (Of course as long as Ireland behaves more or less reasonably - if they started to demand completely crazy things, like, say, ask the EU to actually help them annex NI, we should of course be frank and talk them out of this. But Ireland's stance, afaics, is very reasonable.)
@davidallengreen @FT @APHClarkson So, separate agreement, why not? I don't have particular objections, nor will a priori most other states. But it's entirely up to Ireland to decide what they think is the right way forward on this question, since they are directly affected. The EU will then support that stance.
