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Breaking: UK negotiators have proposed a selective approach to an all-Ireland agrifood zone, no alignment on customs or industrial goods, and no "legally operable" solutions this side of a Withdrawal Agreement, according to well-placed sources.
Officials briefed on the UK "non-papers" as well as the talks between the Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, have described the proposal as a "backward step" and "totally insane"
According to one official, the UK proposals do not meet ANY of the three objectives of the backstop which are: avoiding a hard border, protecting the all-island economy and preserving North-South cooperation
The UK is proposing that an all-Ireland SPS (agrifood + animal health) zone be aligned under EU rules only selectively. Among the exemptions negotiators have sought are EU labelling rules
The UK papers insist that there would be no North-South alignment on customs or industrial goods, as per the backstop. Instead there would be trusted traders, technology, checks away from the border.
EU sources say this would require wholesale derogations from EU customs law.
Nor would the MaxFac package be legally operable. These proposals would remain concepts which would be fleshed out during a transition period.
"All of it is quite sobering," said source. "Its cherry picking on [agri-food] rules, regulatory controls on industrial goods done away from the border, with extensive derogations. None of this legally operable. It is currently only concepts to be worked out during the transition
In essence, the UK is not only wanting to slice and dice the backstop, they want to slice and dice one of the bits that has been sliced and diced.
One member state said the UK had gone a few steps forward by proposing an all-Ireland SPS zone, but had now gone ten steps back.
