EU trade plan ‘could end the United Kingdom’ – May

Posted by Jim on March 3, 2018

EU trade plan ‘could end the United Kingdom’ – May

The British Prime Minister has claimed an EU proposal for a ‘common
regulatory area’ between the EU and the North of Ireland would “threaten
the constitutional integrity of the UK”.

Released in Brussels on Wednesday by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator
Michel Barnier, the text puts into legal terms a joint report agreed by
Britain with the EU in December. It effectively codifies a proposal for
the North of Ireland to have special status with the EU as the default
measure to ensure that no ‘hard border’ across Ireland will result from
the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

On the crucial issue of the Irish border, the draft text spells out in
detail how the principle of “regulatory alignment” agreed in December
would be implemented if Britain fails to find technological or
diplomatic solutions to keeping the border open.

The EU text states that if no technological or diplomatic solutions are
found to keeping the border open, the fallback framework is that “the
territory of Northern Ireland, excluding the territorial waters of the
United Kingdom … shall be considered to be part of the customs
territory of the Union”.

It suggests that EU and British customs authorities should jointly
oversee movements between Ireland and Britain, while Europe would remain
involved in aspects of taxation and state aid in both parts of Ireland.

However, there was a strong reaction in London.

“No UK prime minster could ever agree to it,” Mrs May told MPs.

Answering questions in parliament shortly after the publication of the
text, she said: “The draft legal text the Commission have published
would, if implemented, undermine the UK common market and threaten the
constitutional integrity of the UK by creating a customs and regulatory
border down the Irish Sea.”

There was also a sharp reaction from unionists.

The proposals sparked anger from the DUP, with leader Arlene Foster
calling it “constitutionally unacceptable.” She said the North of
Ireland must have “unfettered access” to the British market.

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds claimed the EU was using the peace process
as an excuse to “thwart” Britain’s departure from the European Union.

Despite the majority vote two years ago by the people of the North of
Ireland to remain within the European Union, North Antrim MP Ian Paisley
hit out at what he saw as EU efforts to “annex” the area, while the
Ulster Unionist Party ironically claimed there was an attempt to
override the principle of consent of the Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald condemned the reaction from the
British government and the DUP to the EU legal text.

Speaking in the Dail, she said: “The Tory-DUP axis is satisfied to treat
the welfare of the people of this island as collateral damage so long as
they achieve their ‘little Englander’ vision for Brexit.

“The position of the Tory-DUP Brexiteers is that they will have their
Brexit at any cost. Except it won’t be them who foots the bill. It will
be the ordinary people of this island both north and south.

“That can’t be allowed to happen. The Tory-DUP wrecking agenda cannot
prevail.”

In a high-profile speech at London’s Mansion House on Friday, the
British prime minister subseuqently set out five “foundations” for
Britain’s negotiators, but provided scant details on the issue of the
border.

She said she believed that the border should be “as frictionless as
possible” through a “customs arrangement” and by ensuring that British
regulatory standards “remain at least as high” as those of the EU.

She also hinted at proposals to reduce delays at border crossings by
recognising “trusted traders” and by “drawing on the most advanced IT
solutions so that vehicles do not need to stop at the border”.

Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy said May’s response was “riddled with
contradictions” and failed to deal with the problems Brexit presents to
Ireland.

“Theresa May has failed to deal with the fact that dragging the North of
Ireland out of the European Union, against the wishes of its
inhabitants, is undemocratic.

“She has failed also to deal with the fact that the North leaving the
customs union is incompatible with avoiding a hard border in Ireland.

“Theresa May and her government are still steering a course which
undermines the Good Friday Agreement and is injurious to the political,
economic and social interests of the people of Ireland, North and
South.”

He said the only workable and democratic solution was for the North of
Ireland to be granted Special Designated Status within the European
Union and the Customs Union.

“The rights of all the people of Ireland to European citizenship must be
upheld,” he said. “The EU and the Irish Government must now stand firm
in the face of British obduracy and defend the interests of Ireland and
the Irish people.”