Yahoo Finance EU chief warns of cliff edge Brexit without Irish border solution
The UK could still face a cliff edge Brexit next year without a solution to the Irish border issue, the European Council President has warned.
Donald Tusk said the progress made in Brexit negotiations so far would count for nothing without an agreement on how to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In a frank message to London, he said: “The UK’s decision on Brexit has caused the problem, and the UK will have to help solve it.”
Mr Tusk’s warning came in a debate in the European Parliament on a summit in March where European leaders signed-off a transition period of 21 months and agreed to start trade talks with the UK.
Speaking at the time, Prime Minister Theresa May hailed a “new dynamic” in negotiations.
Mr Tusk told MEPs in Strasbourg today that he wants to “use the positive momentum” generated at the summit to “finally settle” the issue of the Irish border.
But he added: “Without a solution, there will be no withdrawal agreement and no transition.”
His words will alarm the many UK businesses which called for a transition period in order to continue trading with the EU on current terms while a new trade deal is agreed.
Lord Hain, a former Northern Ireland Secretary who is backing the People’s Vote campaign, said the UK government hasn’t resolved the “contradiction” of wanting to leave the Single Market and Custom Union while avoiding a hard border.
“The Government can no longer continue to duck the question of the Northern Ireland border,” he said.
“As Donald Tusk has made clear, lack of progress on this vital issue now threatens to blow apart the Brexit negotiations.”
But, speaking in the European Parliament, UKIP MEP Nigel Farage said he didn’t want a transition period.
“I’m concerned we’re headed for a really bad deal from a British perspective,” he said.
“We’ve already conceded too much money, too much authority for the European Court of Justice, we’re betraying our fishing communities, oh and open-door immigration, the primary reason we voted Brexit, continues with no end in sight. We’re headed for Brexit in name only.”
Responding to those comments, Mr Tusk said: “I feel shocked but for the first time I must agree with Mr Farage. You’re right Mr Farage, Brexit will not bring any good to anyone.”
He also said that Brexit is “by definition about weakening trade” after calls from the leader of the UK Conservatives to focus on a future trade deal between the UK and EU.
It came as the EU finalised new trade deal with Japan and Singapore.
Labour MEPs said they were further proof of the benefit of remaining in the EU’s customs union in the long term.
