Tony Connelly Profile picture
Jun 28, 2019 5 tweets 1 min read Read on X
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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More from @tconnellyRTE

Jun 11
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May 27
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Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar has said he understood the arguments about a super majority being needed in the event of a referenum on a united Ireland, and said “50pc plus 1” would not be a desirable outcome.
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However, he said it would be difficult to sustain that situation if a persistent numerical majority rejected the current status quo.
3/ He was speaking in response to Northern Ireland Office minister @SteveBakerHW's remarks earlier this week that a border poll should require a super majority on both sides of the border.
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