{"id":4137,"date":"2018-11-19T15:14:29","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T20:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=4137"},"modified":"2018-11-22T10:16:29","modified_gmt":"2018-11-22T15:16:29","slug":"foster-calls-border-backstop-an-eu-negotiating-tactic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=4137","title":{"rendered":"Foster Calls Border Backstop an EU ‘Negotiating Tactic’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The draft Brexit deal presents a \u201cfalse choice\u201d as a legal backstop is not needed to maintain a free flowing Irish border, Arlene Foster has insisted.<\/p>\n

The DUP leader pointed to remarks by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that he was \u201cnot contemplating\u201d a hard border in the event of a no-deal Brexit as evidence the issue was \u201conly ever a negotiating tactic by the European Union\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Taoiseach\u2019s comments that the Irish government is not contemplating a hard border in the event the Withdrawal Agreement is rejected by Parliament underlines why a focus on the backstop was only ever a negotiating tactic by the European Union,\u201d said Ms Foster.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been told that the backstop is only necessary to prevent such a hard border, but these comments make it clear that the EU\u2019s insistence on a backstop was not aimed at this. The European Union\u2019s focus on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has only ever been a negotiating tactic to secure its own aims in the negotiations.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cThe comments also further underscore how the inclusion of a border down the Irish Sea within the current Withdrawal Agreement is not only unacceptable, but is also unnecessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Withdrawal Agreement was based on the false choice that an internal UK border was the only way to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Foster and party colleagues are angry at the deal\u2019s proposed \u2018backstop\u2019 \u2013 the trading system that would operate on the island in the absence of a broader UK\/EU deal \u2013 claiming the proposal for Northern Ireland to adhere to a different regulatory framework than Great Britain would undermine the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

While Mr Varadkar said on Sunday he was not contemplating a hard border in the event of a crash Brexit, on Friday he said one would be \u201cvery difficult to avoid\u201d in a no-deal scenario.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a no-deal scenario it would be very difficult to avoid a hard border because of the obvious fact that, as Ireland remaining part of the European Union, we would no doubt be asked to implement European law,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso the United Kingdom having left the European Union would seek to join the World Trade Organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would have to implement WTO rules so those hard Brexiteers who say that somehow just through political will you can avoid a hard border that doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThe only way we can avoid a hard border is by an agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her latest statement on the controversial backstop issue, Ms Foster said: \u201cThe agreement that has been put on the table is clearly not a good deal and no-one should be forced into accepting another false choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis really bad deal would lock us into the EU with no way out. We would be trapped. Those attempting to sell the current deal are using the threat of no-deal as the only other option. I appreciate the concerns people have about a no deal but this should not be a binary choice. It is absolutely clear that it is time to work for a better deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>