The European Commission's Brexit backstop proposal does not deliver on the need to preserve the integrity of the UK’s internal market, not least in Northern Ireland, the UK prime minister Theresa May said in a speech in Belfast on Friday.

"The reality is that any agreement we reach with the EU will have to provide for the frictionless movement of goods across the Northern Ireland border.

"Equally clear is that as a United Kingdom government we could never accept that the way to prevent a hard border with Ireland is to create a new border within the United Kingdom.

"To do so would also be a breach of the spirit of the Belfast Agreement, and for exactly the same reason that a hard border would be," May said.

She continued that it would not be showing "parity of esteem" and "just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations" of the Unionist community in Northern Ireland to cut their part of the United Kingdom off from the rest of the UK.

"I do not think any member state would be willing to accept that, in order to leave the EU, a nation must accept such a threat to its constitutional integrity. We made the choice to join as nation states.

"We must be free as nation states to make the choice to leave. The joint report that we agreed in December was very clear on this.

"We were both explicit that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, consistent with the principle of consent in the Belfast Agreement.

"And the report is also clear about the need to preserve the integrity of the UK’s internal market, which is vital to businesses the length and breadth of our country – not least here in Northern Ireland.

"Yet the Commission’s proposed ‘backstop’ text does not deliver this," May said.

She said her Government remains committed to including a legally operative backstop in the withdrawal agreement, but that it must deliver on all the commitments made in the December joint report.

White paper and the border

The prime minister said that to see no hard border between the UK and Ireland, and no new border that cuts Northern Ireland off from the rest of the UK, are realities that have to be contended with as both the EU and the UK find a way forward.

However, she said doing so means the UK must rule out the free trade deal on offer from the EU that excludes Northern Ireland, and creates a border within the UK.

"The other alternative, membership of the Customs Union plus an extended version of the EEA, would mean continued free movement, ongoing vast annual payments and total alignment with EU rules across the whole of our economy, and no control of our trade policy.

"That would not be consistent with the referendum result.

"In order to move the negotiations on our future relationship forward, we needed to put a credible third option on the table.

"To work for the UK, it needs to honour the Belfast Agreement, deliver on the referendum result and be good for our economy.

"And for the EU to consider it, it needs to be a proposal that they can see works for them as well as us."

May said it was her belief that the White Paper, which proposes a free trade area in goods and agricultural products between the UK and the EU, following the agreement reached at Chequers last week, is that proposal.

Time for EU to respond

With the latest UK proposals on the table, May said it is now for the EU to respond.

"Not simply to fall back on to previous positions which have already been proven unworkable. But to evolve their position in kind. And, on that basis, I look forward to resuming constructive discussions."

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