«Breaking News» Brussels reassures Britain over the Irish border backstop as Geoffrey Cox holds talks with Barnier

Brussels last night sought to reassure Britain that ‘temporary means temporary’ when it comes to the Irish border ‘backstop’.

Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox, the UK top law officer, held late-night talks over dinner inside the EU Commission with the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

He stayed overnight, although no further discussions are scheduled for today.

Ahead of his arrival, Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Simon Coveney, revealed that the discussions have been ‘building on’ extra reassurances published late last year and were focused on ensuring the backstop can never become more than a ‘temporary arrangement’.

Speaking in Dublin, he said: ‘We want to ensure that the backstop is a temporary arrangement. We have been building on documents published in December and building on timelines.

Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Simon Coveney, revealed that the discussions were focused on ensuring the backstop can never become more than a ‘temporary arrangement’

‘We’re in the space of trying to provide clarity that temporary means temporary. It’s too early to be optimistic. My understanding is the negotiations have been difficult.’

Arriving in Brussels yesterday afternoon Mr Cox was asked if he still had hope a deal which satisfies both sides could be struck.

He said: ‘There is always hope. There are reasonable conversations going on.’

He refused to go into further detail but added: ‘We are having very constructive dialogue at the moment.’

EU sources said the UK was for the first time expected to present a formal text setting out what it is seeking at last night’s meeting, with only a week left before another Commons vote on Theresa May’s deal.

Mrs May has been demanding changes to the backstop - designed to prevent a hard border emerging in Ireland - which would ensure it cannot lock the UK into a customs union with the EU indefinitely.

She has insisted that an end date or unilateral exit clause are possible, but Brussels has repeatedly rejected both options.

Mr Cox gave legal advice late last year warning that the backstop could ‘endure indefinitely’, leading to Mrs May’s Brexit deal suffering a crushing defeat in the Commons in January.

Conservative Eurosceptics are calling for a ‘legally-binding’ exit mechanism that will offer a ‘clear and unconditional route out of the backstop if trade talks fail’ in future.

They will assess whatever Mr Cox brings back before deciding on how to vote on the PM’s Brexit deal next week in the Commons.

Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox, the UK top law officer, held late-night talks over dinner inside the EU Commission with the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier

EU sources say the negotiations are focused on new legal assurances surrounding the arbitration system which will allow either side to terminate the backstop.

How alternative arrangements which replace the need for the backstop could be reached have also been discussed.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, who was also present at last night’s dinner, was also expected to raise concerns about the rights of British expats in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

It came after he sent Mr Barnier a letter spelling out Government worries over healthcare cover for Britons abroad in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

The Commons last week unanimously backed seeking a joint UK-EU commitment to fulfil the section of the Withdrawal Treaty securing EU citizens’ rights in the UK, and vice versa, whatever the outcome of talks.

But Brussels rejected it the following day, insisting that it will not ‘negotiate mini-deals’ while talks are ongoing.

In his letter, Mr Barclay said the government had ‘particular’ concerns over healthcare in relation to ‘vulnerable citizens’ on the Continent and called for an agreement to ensure they are ‘safeguarded in all scenarios’.

If MPs vote in favour of the Brexit deal next week, citizens’ rights covering issues such as healthcare and social security will be guaranteed.

But in a No Deal scenario it is for each member state to announce what protections they will give in these areas.

The developments came as EU Council chief Donald Tusk claimed anti-European forces meddled in the 2016 Brexit referendum to help the Leave vote get over the line.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels with the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, he said he agreed with claims earlier made by French president Emmanuel Macron that the EU should be alert to dark external influences.

Mr Tusk, a fierce Vladimir Putin critic, said: ‘There are external anti-European forces, which are seeking - openly or secretly - to influence the democratic choices of Europeans, as was the case with Brexit and a number of election campaigns across Europe. And it may again be the case with the European elections in May.’

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/06/brussels-reassures-britain-over-the-irish-border-backstop-as-geoffrey-cox-holds-talks-with-barnier/
Main photo article Brussels last night sought to reassure Britain that ‘temporary means temporary’ when it comes to the Irish border ‘backstop’.
Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox, the UK top law officer, held late-night talks over dinner inside the EU Commission with the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
He staye...

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