Thread by @tconnellyRTE

Here’s Michel Barnier’s bit on the Ireland backstop

“First, we will use our best endeavours to solve this issue for the long term, through a future agreement.

If we are not ready by July 2020, we could jointly consider extending the transition to provide for more time.

“Only if at the end of the transition, extended or not, we are still not there with a future agreement, would the backstop solution that we agreed today kick-in.

“This backstop solution has evolved considerably from the original EU proposal of February this year.

“Over the last few weeks, we have worked with the UK on the basis of their proposal.

In the backstop scenario, we agreed to create a EU-UK single customs territory. Northern Ireland will therefore remain in this same customs territory as the rest of the UK.

“In addition: Northern Ireland would remain aligned to those rules of the Single Market that are essential for avoiding a hard border. This concerns agricultural goods as well as all products.

“The UK would apply the EU's Customs Code in Northern Ireland. This would allow Northern Irish businesses to bring goods into the Single Market without restrictions, which is essential to avoid a hard border.

“The text of the Protocol also makes clear that the NI economy retains unfettered market access to the rest of the UK.
At the UK's request, NI will apply all the rules of the single market for electricity.
This is in the interest of the economy of Northern Ireland and Ireland.”