“For us in our Parliament, progress is 0%”.
Chief Brexit negotiator for the European Commission Guy Verhofstadt has restated the importance of a soft border in Ireland when it comes to Brexit talks.
In a statement on Twitter, Verhofstadt wrote: “Progress on the #Brexit negotiations can be 90%, 95% or even 99%, but as long as there is no solution for the Irish border, as long as the Good Friday agreement is not fully secured, for us in our Parliament progress is 0%”.
Progress on the #Brexit negotiations can be 90%, 95% or even 99%, but as long as there is no solution for the Irish border, as long as the Good Friday agreement is not fully secured, for us in our Parliament progress is 0%.
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) October 24, 2018
As it stands, there has been no agreement as to whether the United Kingdom will agree to abide by the rules of the customs union and single market. Furthermore, the DUP, which props up the current Tory government, has pushed back against any suggestion that Northern Ireland could economically align with the EU rather than the UK post-Brexit.
Either of these solutions would allow for Ireland to maintain its soft border. However, if no deal is struck, that will necessitate a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and the North.
Verhofstadt seemed also to offer future freedom of movement for Britons through the EU if they would agree to the same for EU citizens. Currently, UK citizens are set to lose their freedom to travel, move and work in the European Union.
Progress on the #Brexit negotiations can be 90%, 95% or even 99%, but as long as there is no solution for the Irish border, as long as the Good Friday agreement is not fully secured, for us in our Parliament progress is 0%.
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) October 24, 2018
A #Brexit deal can be reached as it’s in the mutual interest, but one last push on #citizensrights will help: an offer of unlimited onward movement for UK citizens in EU27, in exchange for lifelong return to the UK for EU citizens. I know the UK could agree, so let’s deliver it.
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) October 24, 2018
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