EU Reaction to Johnson's Proposal on Irish Border: We Remain Open, But Not Convinced

(Patria) – European Council President Donald Tusk stated on Thursday that the EU "stands firmly behind Ireland" regarding the latest Brexit plan presented by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Tusk also stated that he is "not convinced" by the proposal, which the EU has waited too long for and which comes less than a month before the Brexit deadline of October 31.

This is just one of the skeptical reactions to Johnson's proposal for an alternative solution to the Irish border, which the EU requires to maintain the integrity of the European customs union and the single market after Brexit.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar commented that the proposal "failed in many aspects," and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and members of the Brexit group in the European Parliament share a similar opinion.

Let us recall, the plan presented by the British government to the EU envisages Northern Ireland leaving the EU customs union along with the rest of Great Britain at the end of the transition period. This would mean the creation of new customs checkpoints on the island of Ireland, which Brussels and Dublin have always opposed.

Furthermore, Northern Ireland would remain connected to EU rules on goods for the single market, but the arrangement would be approved by official Belfast every 4 years.

The British Prime Minister believes that the government has shown flexibility because the plan is a "compromise solution."

However, Ireland and the EU believe that no border should be established between Northern Ireland and Ireland: "The Irish government, the people, North and South, do not want customs checkpoints or trade tariffs between North and South," claims Prime Minister Varadkar.

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told the Irish parliament that if this is the British government's final offer, there will be no agreement, but that it is nevertheless a "serious proposal" that is a "stepping stone" towards a final deal, writes Euronews.

The Brexit group at the European Parliament believes that the proposal does not address the real problems that need to be resolved if the backstop is removed, such as the economy of the entire island, respect for the "Good Friday" agreement, and the integrity of the Single Market.