The EU has committed to giving the UK the option to exit the customs union unilaterally, while maintaining the other elements of the backstop, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday.
He made the announcement following a briefing with EU27 ambassadors and the European Parliament on the ongoing talks with the UK.
“[The] EU commits to give UK the option to exit the single customs territory unilaterally, while the other elements of the backstop must be maintained to avoid a hard border. [The] UK will not be forced into customs union against its will,” he said.
4/5 EU commits to give UK the option to exit the Single Customs Territory unilaterally, while the other elements of the backstop must be maintained to avoid a hard border. UK will not be forced into customs union against its will.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 8, 2019
He said that the “EU will continue working intensively over the coming days to ensure that the UK leaves the EU with an agreement”.
Essentially, this means that Britain can leave the customs union, but not Northern Ireland, as per the December 2017 agreement.
It could also lead to a border in the Irish Sea, if the North remains aligned with EU standards.
The move is likely to anger those in the DUP party, which is propping up Theresa May’s government.
Its leader Arlene Foster said in late 2017 that her party would not support any arrangements that create barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
She also said that it would not accept the North being treated differently to the rest of the UK.
With reporting from Phelim O’Neill.
SHARING OPTIONS