May ‘close to breakthrough’ in standoff over Irish border

A breakthrough on the Brexit stand-off over the Irish border appeared closer today after new proposals based on fresh devolution to Belfast emerged.

Under the plan the Northern Ireland Executive would be given sweeping authority to keep laws in the province close to the EU single market rules.

The set up would allow Northern Ireland to leave the customs union with the rest of Britain but still operate different rules on cross-border trade to the mainland UK.

Ireland has suggested leaving Northern Ireland in the customs union as the simple way of ensuring there is no hard border inside the island of Ireland

The prospect of a deal will raise hopes Theresa May (pictured in Saudi Arabia overnight with Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Province) can secure trade talks next month 

The prospect of a deal will raise hopes Theresa May (pictured in Saudi Arabia overnight with Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Province) can secure trade talks next month 

If it went ahead, it could balance demands from Dublin for Northern Ireland to stay on EU customs terms and London’s desire to quit the single market and customs union. 

Neither side wants a ‘hard border’ but there has been no agreement so far on how this could be achieved. 

Reports in The Times today suggest both the UK and Brussels could agree the system in principle to allow wider trade talks to begin despite the Northern Ireland Executive having been suspended for almost a year amid a deep political stalemate. 

The paper said agreement on Ireland would pave the way for a quick ‘standstill’ transition deal to be agreed in January so long term trade talks can finally start. 

RESOLVING THE IRISH BORDER: WHERE THE PARTIES STAND  

British Government: No physical infrastructure on the border but Northern Ireland leaves the EU Customs Union with the rest of the UK. Customs rules to be decided as part of the future trade talks.

Irish Government: No physical infrastructure on the border and the same rules on trade on both sides. Ireland suggests this could mean leaving Northern Ireland inside the customs union with checks at Belfast and other ports.

DUP: Protect Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom at all costs. No physical infrastructure but no concession to making rules different in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein: Leave Northern Ireland in the Customs Union and Single Market so it mirror rules in the Republic  

EU: Keep the EU27 together and back Ireland over the UK.  

Hints at a deal on Ireland have emerged two days after it was suggested agreement had been struck on how to work out Britain’s divorce bill.

The progress is being made ahead of a crunch meeting between Theresa May and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker over lunch on Monday.

EU leaders will then gather for a crucial summit on December 14 to rule whether ‘sufficient progress’ has been made to start the trade talks.

An EU negotiator told the Times: ‘After sufficient progress on withdrawal we will open the next two phases of negotiations, first of all on a transition period and then on the future partnership.

‘A transition deal will be ready in principle for January.’

A UK Government source added: ‘In return for making progress on the withdrawal agreement the EU will move on transition by the end of January with a fair wind,’ they said.

They said this was what Theresa May meant when she talked about Britain and the EU ‘moving forward together’. 

Britain has insisted it is impossible to finalise how the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic will work before UK-EU trade talks. Both sides want to avoid a hard border but neither has offered a mutually acceptable solution for customs controls  

Britain has insisted it is impossible to finalise how the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic will work before UK-EU trade talks. Both sides want to avoid a hard border but neither has offered a mutually acceptable solution for customs controls  

Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed last night warned Dublin still needed concrete proposals from Britain if it is not to veto trade talks next month. 

He told Newsnight: ‘If the UK has clearly said no to a single market and customs union, it is clearly incumbent on the British Government to articulate a way forward that enables us to have an invisible, seamless border which they have said they want. 

‘We need political solutions now and we are not getting them from the UK Government.’

Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed last night warned Dublin still needed concrete proposals from Britain

Irish Agriculture Minister Michael Creed last night warned Dublin still needed concrete proposals from Britain



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