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European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said the EU will always show \u201cloyalty and solidarity\u201d with Ireland on the issue of its border with Northern Ireland.<\/p>\nEuropean Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said the EU will always show \u201cloyalty and solidarity\u201d with Ireland on the issue of its border with Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
In his annual state of the union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Juncker said the EU would “defend all the elements of the Good Friday Agreement”.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is Brexit that risks making the border more visible in Northern Ireland. It is not the European Union,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Juncker also said Brussels will work \u201cday and night\u201d to reach a Brexit deal and that they owe it to EU citizens to preserve stability in the wake of the UK\u2019s withdrawal.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he warned the other 27 member states remain united behind the commission\u2019s negotiating position and that the UK cannot enjoy the same \u201cprivileged position\u201d as a member state.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you leave the union you are of course no longer part of our single market \u2013 and certainly not only in parts of it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He welcomed Theresa May\u2019s proposal in the Chequers plan for the establishment of a free trade area between Britain and the EU.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Kingdom will never be an ordinary third country for us. The United Kingdom will always be a very close neighbor and partner, in political, economic and security terms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commission\u2019s negotiators stand ready to work day and night to reach a deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe owe it to our citizens and our businesses to ensure the United Kingdom\u2019s withdrawal is orderly and that there is stability afterwards. It will not be the commission that will stand in the way of this.\u201d<\/p>\n