“While of course we will explore and look at all of the proposed British solutions, they are essentially a starting point in negotiations, as opposed to an end point.”
Simon Coveney has warned that the European Union could reject the latest Brexit proposals by the British government, as Theresa May looks to ensure a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC on Sunday, the Tánaiste was critical of the British Prime Minister, arguing that she hasn’t fully divulged details on how she plans to “solve the problem of maintaining a largely invisible border on the island of Ireland” beyond a proposed streamlined customs arrangement that was published last summer.
Marr offered that May has provided some details, noting that 80% of small businesses will “simply be ignored completely” while 20% of very high value goods crossing the border will be dealt with electronically.
“Doesn’t that make some kind of sense?” asked Marr.
“Well, you see this is the mistake that I think is made in Britain all the time,” Coveney responded, “when somebody definitively says that something ‘will be the case’ from the British government, people assume that that is the negotiated outcome – of course it’s not.
“And I’m not sure that the European Union will be able to support a situation whereby 80% of companies that trade north-south and south-north will actually protect the integrity of the EU single market,” he continued.
The Tánaiste said that such a scenario will be a “big priority” for the EU negotiating team.
“While of course we will explore and look at all of the proposed British solutions, they are essentially a starting point in negotiations, as opposed to an end point,” he said.
“Our responsibility in Ireland is to work positively with Britain to try to explore solutions,” offered Coveney, adding that should those potential solutions not come to pass, the backstop plan of full British alignment with the customs union and single market rules that Theresa May committed to in December may be introduced.
In a speech on Friday, May rejected “unacceptable” proposals to retain customs union arrangements in Northern Ireland, arguing in favour of technological means or a broader trade agreement to ensure a soft border remains in place.
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