Polish foreign minister breaks ranks to say Irish backstop should have time limit

Poland’s foreign minister today called for the Irish border backstop to be scrapped after five years – as cracks emerged in the EU’s united front.

Jacek Czaputowicz floated the compromise as Theresa May struggles to break the deadlock at Westminster. 

He also suggested that the EU’s position was being held hostage by Ireland, and Dublin had overplayed its hand.   

The intervention offers a shard of hope for the PM, after the EU signalled a hardline stance despite the rising threat of the UK crashing out in March.  

Other European politicians turned up the heat today, with Michel Barnier again insisting the Withdrawal Agreement will not be reopened.

German economy minister Peter Altmaier warned the bloc’s ‘sympathy and patience’ should not be ‘misused for party politics’.

‘Large majority wants to exclude hard #Brexit – in the interests of the UK ad beyond,’ he tweeted.

Poland’s Jacek Czaputowicz (right) has reportedly suggested a compromise on the Irish border backstop as Theresa May struggles to break the deadlock at Westminster. But German foreign minister Heiko Maas (left) said the ball is in the UK’s court 

German economy minister Peter Altmaier warned the EU's 'sympathy and patience' should not be 'misused for party politics'

German economy minister Peter Altmaier warned the EU’s ‘sympathy and patience’ should not be ‘misused for party politics’

The frustration was also clear as EU foreign ministers arrived for a summit in Brussels this morning. 

Germany’s Heiko Maas told reporters: ‘We are all quite keen to see what we will hear from London today.’ 

‘It is about time. We know what London doesn’t want, now we must at last find out what they want and what there is a majority in parliament for, so we can sit down with our colleagues from London and talk about how we avoid a hard Brexit, a Brexit without an agreement.

‘It appears that everyone wants that, so it must be possible.’

In an interview with the Polish Rzeczpospolita newspaper, Mr Czaputowicz suggested Ireland should water down the backstop to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

‘If Ireland appealed to the EU to change the agreement on the backstop in the agreement with the British, so that it would apply temporarily, let’s say five years, the matter would be solved,’ he said.

‘Of course, this would be less beneficial for Ireland than an indefinite backstop, but much more favorable than the no-deal Brexit, which inevitably approaches.’

Asked whether the EU’s position was now a ‘hostage’ to the Irish government, Mr Czaputowicz said: ‘In a sense, yes.’

He suggested the two sides were now in a game of ‘chicken’.  ‘As a consequence, Ireland will lose the most,’ he said.

The minister confirmed the Polish proposal when asked by the BBC in Brussels today. 

Theresa May (pictured meeting New Zealand PM Jacinda Adern in Downing Street today) is scrambling to find a way through the Brexit deadlock

Theresa May (pictured meeting New Zealand PM Jacinda Adern in Downing Street today) is scrambling to find a way through the Brexit deadlock

Remainer MPs including Chuka Umunna (pictured centre in Westminster today) are stepping up their push to rule out a no-deal Brexit

Remainer MPs including Chuka Umunna (pictured centre in Westminster today) are stepping up their push to rule out a no-deal Brexit

Mr Barnier held talks with Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney in the Belgian capital this morning. Speaking to RTE afterwards, the EU’s chief negotiator said ‘the Withdrawal Agreement with all its dimensions, including the backstop, is the best deal possible’.

‘As I see, following carefully the political debate in London, this debate is much more now on the future relationship. As I said last week at the EU parliament, if the UK want to be more ambitious, we are ready to be,’ he said.

‘It is now for the UK leaders to build a stable and positive majority for a deal. We are waiting for the next steps from the UK government but we are ready to work again on the political declaration.’

Mr Coveney dismissed the comments by the Polish minister, saying the ‘EU’s position is Ireland’s position’. 

Referring to his conversation with Mr Barnier, he said: ‘He confirmed that the EU remains firmly supportive of the Withdrawal Agreement in full, which includes the guarantees and fall-back mechanisms to ensure there will be no physical border between the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland. 

‘We both want to wait and see what the British Prime Minister says to Westminster today when she makes her statement following the events of the last 10 days or so. 

‘The EU and Ireland have remained consistent in this process. We spent 18 months in a difficult negotiation that resulted in a Withdrawal Agreement and all of the detail that was part of that.’ 

Mrs May will unveil her Brexit ‘Plan B’ later – trying to win over Tory Eurosceptics and the DUP by securing more concessions from the EU.

The PM has been scrambling to find a way through after her deal was humiliatingly crushed in the Commons last week.

But in a conference call with Cabinet last night Mrs May effectively ruled out trying to find a cross-party consensus – instead making clear she will focus her efforts on bringing Brexiteer rebels and the DUP back onside. 

The approach has been branded ‘one more heave’ by ministers, but it is far from clear that the EU is willing to give enough ground on the crucial Irish border backstop issue.

Mrs May will appear in the House later to explain how she intends to proceed.

She will also table a ‘neutral’ motion to be debated and voted on – along with any amendments tabled by MPs – on January 29.

Government sources said she would be holding further talks with MPs, as well as business leaders and trade unionists, throughout the week.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to hold discussions with the PM, and there has been little success for the government in trying to peel off Opposition MPs. The deal was hammered by a record margin of 230 votes in the Commons last week.

There have also been fears that forcing through a package with Labour support will split the Tories and cause an election. 

Mrs May is now expected to press for changes to the Northern Ireland backstop in the hope she can win round Tory Brexiteers and her allies in the DUP.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney was adamant over the weekend the backstop – intended to ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic – was an essential part of the Withdrawal Agreement. 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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