Brussels backtracks on threats of a Hard Border in Ireland under No Deal Brexit

BRUSSELS yesterday backtracked on threats of a Hard Border in Ireland – saying “new ways” could be found to carry out customs checks.

The EU’s Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier performed a screeching U-turn and vowed the EU would look at ways to check goods away from the frontier.

The comments were seized upon by Tory Eurosceptics who have argued for months that technology could be used to avoid a Hard Border.

Mr Barnier said: “If we’re facing a no deal...we’ll have to find an operational way of carrying out checks and controls without putting back in place a border.”

His remarks came just 24 hours after the Commission’s chief spokesman had said it was “obvious” no deal could lead to a hard border.

Mr Barnier also said Parliament had to prove there was a “stable majority” for a closer future relationship before Brussels would agree to extend the Article 50 negotiating deadline beyond March 29.

It was separately claimed Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned aides that the Republic may have to accept its border checks being carried out in Calais or Holland.

He has told opposition leaders Ireland would have to be treated “as one bloc” with the UK by the EU to avoid a Hard Border.

BARNIER'S MAY DIG

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Mr Barnier revealed he now expects MPs to take control of Brexit and keep Britain in the Single Market and Customs Union.

The EU’s chief negotiator said there was a “readiness in London” to soften the UK’s red lines in a dig at Theresa May’s waning authority.

The Frenchman made the remarks after MEPs’ Brexit chief, Guy Verhofstadt, said he was now paying as much attention to MPs’ views on Brexit as the PM’s.

EU diplomats have said it will make their life “much easier” if the Commons backs an amendment formally ruling out no deal.

And speaking to European newspapers Mr Barnier said the best way to overcome the backstop deadlock was for the UK to stay close to the EU.
He said: “We’re ready to be more ambitious if the British decide to shift their red lines, for example by remaining in a customs union, or participating in the single market.

“I believe there is a readiness in London for that. That would make the question of the backstop less prominent.”

BREXIT DELAY

But Mr Barnier later warned MPs that they can only stop no deal if they can decide what kind of future relationship with the EU they want.

Speaking in Brussels, he said: “Leaving the EU without a deal is a default scenario.

“There appears to be a majority in the Commons to oppose no deal, but opposing no deal will not stop no deal from happening at the end of March.

“To stop no deal a positive majority for another solution will need to emerge.”

His intervention came as fellow Eurocrats predicted Britain’s exit from the bloc will now be delayed.

French commissioner Pierre Moscovici said prolonging Article 50 was a “possible scenario” but “we need to know why, what for, what is the plan”.

Pascal Cagni, France’s ambassador for international investment, added: “I think it will be postponed.”

Meanwhile, Angela Merkel said the UK had never really fit in with the rest of the EU.  She said: “The relationship of Great Britain with Europe was always very patchy.

“They have always said ‘we are an island, we want more independence’. For them Europe was always about, or mainly about, the free trade of goods.

“I care now that we and Britain divorce in a good process so that afterwards we can still work closely together in the areas where we must cooperate.

“On defence, domestic security, policing, combating terrorism and on trade too, and so Britain can take part in our research projects if they want.”

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