![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/DpxnkZkXgAA_tZH-1024x682.jpg\")
European Parliament president Antonio Tajani has said he may visit Ireland to outline the parliament\u2019s support in protecting the Irish border.<\/p>\nEuropean Parliament president Antonio Tajani has said he may visit Ireland to outline the parliament\u2019s support in protecting the Irish border.<\/p>\n
Mr Tajani met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this morning ahead of a European Council meeting where he confirmed the parliament\u2019s commitment to the backstop, which he described as a \u201ckey element\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout an agreement on that (backstop), the European Parliament will not be able to vote in favor of the agreement,\u201d he said at a press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI may well be visiting Ireland to explain parliament\u2019s position, which is one of full support for the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI repeated our position on the border. We want a flexible border, we want to preserve the Good Friday Agreement but we also need to protect our health, our agri-food industry and our agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, we have to find a way of addressing the question of the border. We have a plant health (unit) provisions operating at the moment and hopefully they can be taken up in the new relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we have to have an agreement on the backstop.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said he would be in favor of extending the so-called transition period in Britain leaving the European Union.<\/p>\n
\u201cReferences have been made to a third year, we will be in favor of that. Our initial proposal also mentioned a three-year transitional period,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n