The save item on the “backstop” mode (stay North of Ireland in the customs Union of the EU and the European single market after the onset of the transition period Brexit) in the agreement on the terms of a British exit from the European Union makes the impossible prospect of a deal to Brexit. This is stated in the statement of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, which on Tuesday issued Reuters.
“Obviously, if the agreement on the output will not re-open [for negotiations], and “backstop” is abolished, then the prospects of a deal there,” – noted in the message, which is quoted by TASS.
While London has expressed readiness “in good faith to negotiate [the development of] alternatives, “backstop”.
Johnson on Monday sent a letter to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, which outlined that “backstop” in the view, insisted on by Brussels, would be “undemocratic and contrary to the sovereignty of the United Kingdom as a state”, from which London will have no right to withdraw “unilaterally”. The British Prime Minister expressed the hope that the parties will seek other solutions and that in the end an agreement will be reached. However, Tusk on Tuesday rejected the proposal of the head of the British government, because, in his words, “backstop” is a kind of insurance to prevent the emergence of rigid boundaries on the island of Ireland.
Tusk also accused the Prime Minister of Boris Johnson’s intention to create after a British exit from the EU the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. “Safety mechanism (“backstop” a mechanism to ensure that transparent border between the North and the South of Ireland. – Approx. TASS) ensures the possibility to avoid the “hard edge” on the island of Ireland, if the alternative is found or until it is prepared. Those who oppose a safety mechanism, offering nothing in return, actually support the restoration of the border. They admit it or not,” wrote Tusk.
Later this position was reflected in the document prepared by the EU. “Backstop is required, valid from a legal point of view, the decision in Agreement on the terms of a British exit from the EU to prevent the recovery of rigid boundaries on the island of Ireland”, – the document says. The EU also expressed disappointment that the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to replace “backstop” to “promise to find a solution”, while not providing “specific proposals” for the solution of this problem.
On Tuesday the newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported, citing European diplomats, the more likely the proposal will be rejected. According to her, in Brussels believe that Johnson failed to offer any realistic alternatives “backstop”, disbelieving his promise of preventing on the island of Ireland hard border after the implementation of Brexit.
Meanwhile, Johnson offers to continue the search for compromise. “We believe that now is a good opportunity for everyone to unite, to abandon this “backstop”mode(stay North of Ireland in the customs Union of the EU and the European single market after the onset of the transition period Brexit), and then in the negotiations on the free trade agreement to which we are about to begin after October 31, we will offer all the options by which we can implement seamless trade on the Northern Irish border,” he said.
The head of the British government noted that the EU “clearly still thinks there is a possibility that the Parliament [United Kingdom] block Brexit”. “At the moment the absolute truth is that our friends and partners are a bit negative but I think in reality we will succeed. I think now there is a feeling that you need something to do with this “Backstrom”. We can’t carry it through Parliament in the form in which it exists,” – said the British Prime Minister.
UK were to leave the EU 29 March 2019, that is two years after submitting a written notification of withdrawal from the community. However, the deputies of the house of Commons of the British Parliament three times rejected the draft agreement on the terms Brexit made between Brussels and the government of Prime Minister Theresa may. In the end, the EU agreed to postpone the Brexit first in April-may, then on October 31, and may was forced to resign after failing to bring the situation out of the impasse. After she left the seat of the British Prime Minister took Johnson, who promised to carry out Brexit without a deal if Brussels does not agree with the main requirement of London will not exclude it from the position of “backstop”.