EU ready to give Britain more guarantees 'backstop' is temporary: Barnier

 

FILE PHOTO: EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier attends a joint news conference with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna, Austria February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union is ready to give Britain more guarantees that the Irish "backstop" is only intended to be temporary, the bloc's chief Brexit negotiator said on Friday.

 

"We know that there are misgivings in Britain that the backstop could keep Britain forever connected to the EU," Michel Barnier said in an interview with Germany's Die Welt newspaper to be published on Saturday.

 

"This is not the case. And we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary."

 

The backstop, an arrangement designed to prevent the return of "hard" border infrastructure between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland if there is no trade deal after Brexit that makes it unnecessary, has become the main point of contention in the proposed Brexit deal.

 

"We will not reverse the backstop," Barnier added. "It's an insurance. We don't want to make use of it. And this is also the case when you insure your house. It's only intended for the worst-case scenario."

 

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said last month that the key to securing a Brexit deal that the British government can get through parliament was to define the "temporary" nature of the Irish backstop more precisely.

 

Prime Minister Theresa May has said that, if British lawmakers once more reject her withdrawal agreement in a vote due to take place by March 12, they will get to vote on asking her to request that the EU delay Brexit.

 

Barnier said EU guarantees that the backstop is temporary could come as part of the political agreement setting out expectations for Britain's relationship with the bloc after it leaves.

 

He told Die Welt that any extension must be intended specifically to solve the impasse. He added that he saw little risk of the remaining 27 EU leaders opposing a delay to Britain's exit, currently set down as March 29, as long as Britain was serious about finding a solution.

 

"The question that the EU27 will ask is: What (is it) for? The answer cannot be that Britain wants to postpone a problem. One would want to solve it."

 

He added that any decision to allow an extension would have to be unanimously approved by EU leaders at a summit on March 21.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-02

 

12 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

He told Die Welt that any extension must be intended specifically to solve the impasse. He added that he saw little risk of the remaining 27 EU leaders opposing a delay to Britain's exit, currently set down as March 29, as long as Britain was serious about finding a solution.

He makes it sound like a democracy. Of course the 27 will do as the Germans/French say.

56 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

He makes it sound like a democracy. Of course the 27 will do as the Germans/French say.

I wouldn't bet many bobs on that.

The EU members are a diversified lot.

 

Some have an interest in Brexit and UK because they trade with the UK or coop politically

with the UK in for example the UN system.

 

Some just couldn't care less how the UK fares and how she exits.

Some would be disappointed if the UK should opt not to exit.

 

Several are not at all interested in what Germany and France opine and would

be fully prepared to ask Merkel to piss off and limit herself to minding her own business.

 

It is just weird this UK sickness of thinking that Merkel controls 27 member state.

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The backstop, an arrangement designed to prevent the return of "hard" border infrastructure between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland

any so called "hard border" was a security border not a trade border - there is a massive difference and the reference here is taken out of context

56 minutes ago, melvinmelvin said:

I wouldn't bet many bobs on that.

The EU members are a diversified lot.

 

Some have an interest in Brexit and UK because they trade with the UK or coop politically

with the UK in for example the UN system.

 

Some just couldn't care less how the UK fares and how she exits.

Some would be disappointed if the UK should opt not to exit.

 

Several are not at all interested in what Germany and France opine and would

be fully prepared to ask Merkel to piss off and limit herself to minding her own business.

 

It is just weird this UK sickness of thinking that Merkel controls 27 member state.

 

there are only about 6 EU countries that account for 90% of trade with the UK and Ireland is well down the list although Ireland does use UK roads infrastructure and ports to trade into mainland EU 

1 hour ago, melvinmelvin said:

I wouldn't bet many bobs on that.

The EU members are a diversified lot.

 

Some have an interest in Brexit and UK because they trade with the UK or coop politically

with the UK in for example the UN system.

 

Some just couldn't care less how the UK fares and how she exits.

Some would be disappointed if the UK should opt not to exit.

 

Several are not at all interested in what Germany and France opine and would

be fully prepared to ask Merkel to piss off and limit herself to minding her own business.

 

It is just weird this UK sickness of thinking that Merkel controls 27 member state.

 

Merkel, of course doesn't.

Neither does Macron.

But Germany and France together have too much influence, hence their fear for the new Hanze group and the old Benelux.

Those alliances might be dangerous for the Brussel Europhiles.

1 hour ago, melvinmelvin said:

I wouldn't bet many bobs on that.

The EU members are a diversified lot.

 

Some have an interest in Brexit and UK because they trade with the UK or coop politically

with the UK in for example the UN system.

 

Some just couldn't care less how the UK fares and how she exits.

Some would be disappointed if the UK should opt not to exit.

 

Several are not at all interested in what Germany and France opine and would

be fully prepared to ask Merkel to piss off and limit herself to minding her own business.

 

It is just weird this UK sickness of thinking that Merkel controls 27 member state.

 

Yes, it's the empire effect.

 

They must have a top dog, an emperor.

 

Also they must have winners and losers, everything is a zero sum game.

 

Sad really!

44 minutes ago, smedly said:

any so called "hard border" was a security border not a trade border - there is a massive difference and the reference here is taken out of context

It doesn't matter what kind of border it is. It could be lace or frilly. It will be used as an excuse to open us and them hostilities.

38 minutes ago, smedly said:

there are only about 6 EU countries that account for 90% of trade with the UK and Ireland is well down the list although Ireland does use UK roads infrastructure and ports to trade into mainland EU 

AND? It's a union. All for one and all for one, d'Artagnan!

 

Or however it's spelt

Edited March 2, 20197 yr by Grouse

29 minutes ago, Grouse said:

AND? It's a union. All for one and all for one, d'Artagnan!

 

Or however it's spelt

So what is d'Artagnan?please  explain 

Just make Northern Ireland a self governing province like Hong Kong is a suedo country and trade can carry on

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

EU ready to give Britain more guarantees 'backstop' is temporary: Barnier

So what?

There will be an official international border contrary to the will of the UK Parliament and the EU will not otherwise alter the Brexit agreement with Mays.

But then making a meaningless concession is good negotiations. 

It puts attention back to the UK's chaotic government.

Looks like he is getting ready to change his pounds back to Euro's ????

So why wasn't the backstop temporary in the May/Merkel agreement original version? They must have all known that it would be unacceptable and be rejected by parliament, as it was by both sides of the house.

Why hasn't a fixed date been drafted, as a legally binding amendment, since that majority of 230 kicked it out on 15th January?

The majority only care that the UK has been large net contributor and that is about to stop

1 hour ago, mickymouse1 said:

So what is d'Artagnan?please  explain 

 

one of the three ghost riders, (musq.)

their motto, one for all - all for one

 

1 hour ago, Loiner said:

Why hasn't a fixed date been drafted, as a legally binding amendment, since that majority of 230 kicked it out on 15th January?

Let me tell you a big secret: For an agreement, you need two parties to agree. 

3 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

The EU members are a diversified lot.

Marionettes are a diversified lot, but their strings all end at the same place.

"The European Union is ready to give Britain more guarantees that the Irish "backstop" is only intended to be temporary"

 

"we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary."

 

"We don't want to make use of it.  It's only intended for the worst-case scenario."

 

How can you guarantee that something is "only intended" "or should only" be temporary?  The terms are mutually exclusive IMO.

 

Pure waffle that guarantees nothing.  But both eu and uk govts. hope that the electorate are daft enough to fall for this waffle. ☹️

1 hour ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Let me tell you a big secret: For an agreement, you need two parties to agree. 

So which one hasn't agreed? Sometimes Barnier says he could, other times it's a big fat "Non". 

5 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

I wouldn't bet many bobs on that.

The EU members are a diversified lot.

 

Some have an interest in Brexit and UK because they trade with the UK or coop politically

with the UK in for example the UN system.

 

Some just couldn't care less how the UK fares and how she exits.

Some would be disappointed if the UK should opt not to exit.

 

Several are not at all interested in what Germany and France opine and would

be fully prepared to ask Merkel to piss off and limit herself to minding her own business.

 

It is just weird this UK sickness of thinking that Merkel controls 27 member state.

 

Germany exercises a disproportionate amount of control and influence over the EU and poses a far greater potential risk to its stability than Britain waving Brussels goodbye. 

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-07/germany-may-be-bigger-threat-european-union-brexit

 

 

While Barnier is saying a potential amendment to the deal could make the backstop temporary, everyone needs to remember that the agreement is not only about NI/ROI backstop. That is only a negotiating chip created to stop the Leave process. There’s a whole lot more in the worst deal in history which takes everyone’s eye off the ball. The politicians and MSM are using the backstop soundbite as a diversion to slide Theresa’s agreement through.  In its’ present form it must be rejected, whether by renegotiation at eleventh hour, or by Parliament again.

 

1.       No £39 Billion. Just No.

2.       No Four Freedoms. No - some of those were a principle reason for our Leave vote.

3.       No Single Market.

4.       No backstop that keeps NI in the EU Single Market and Customs Union indefinitely.

5.       No block on the UK ending the backstop unilaterally.

6.       No European Union Courts of Justice. Not after exit day, not for eight years after transition

7.       No EU right to sue the UK for failure to implement EU law.

8.       No extension to the Transition Period.

9.       No new EU laws during the Transition Period.

10.   No additional payment in case of Transition Period extension.

11.   No EU notification to other countries that UK is still tied to the EU FTA and other treaties.

12.   No ongoing EU Common Commercial Policy

13.   No block on our terminating joint programs and activities which would advantage the UK.

14.   No restriction on UK changes to benefit our fishing fleets.

15.   No Political Declaration for the Future Relationship which is the same as Remain, without being a member.

 

There’s plenty more tricks in there too. Unless most of the agreement is rejected, the better option and currently the default is No Deal.

1 hour ago, dick dasterdly said:

"The European Union is ready to give Britain more guarantees that the Irish "backstop" is only intended to be temporary"

 

"we are ready to give further guarantees, assurances and clarifications that the backstop should only be temporary."

 

"We don't want to make use of it.  It's only intended for the worst-case scenario."

 

How can you guarantee that something is "only intended" "or should only" be temporary?  The terms are mutually exclusive IMO.

 

Pure waffle that guarantees nothing.  But both eu and uk govts. hope that the electorate are daft enough to fall for this waffle. ☹️

the way it looks now parliament, not the people, will be the first to savour a bite of the waffle

 

wouldn't call it waffle, its a declaration of political will

nothing binding though

 

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

as long as Britain was serious about finding a solution.

 

Yeah, that's the problem. 

The <deleted> EU. Unelected Muppets playing games until the end.  We must get totally clear of these undemocratic dictator morons forever. No deal does it for me. 

8 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

Some have an interest in Brexit and UK because they trade with the UK or coop politically

with the UK in for example the UN system.

Namely?

 

9 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

It is just weird this UK sickness of thinking that Merkel controls 27 member state.

Beats the bejezus outta thinking that Macron is wearing le pantalon though.

14 minutes ago, Benroon said:

I’m guessing you’re quite old right ? 

 

Because in that little shopping list list you’ve just shut down a massive part of the younger generations future - just ask them. Or don’t they matter ? 

 

By the way your £39b are LEGALLY obligated debts - refuse to pay and the courts will order you too and hand you a legal bill for a few billion more - typical Brexiteer thinking.

 

 

You're kidding right? None of those affect a younger generation's future one bit. I'd ask them but would only get the same nonsensical answer like your that's been drummed into them. The young will be much better off outside the EU, whether they care about it or you know it. Unlike Remainers and Federasts, the future does matter to Leavers.

 

Sorry, but they are NOT legally obligated debts at all. 

What courts?????

I’m guessing you’re quite old right ? 
 
Because in that little shopping list list you’ve just shut down a massive part of the younger generations future - just ask them. Or don’t they matter ? 
 
By the way your £39b are LEGALLY obligated debts - refuse to pay and the courts will order you too and hand you a legal bill for a few billion more - typical Brexiteer thinking.
 
 

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1 hour ago, malagateddy said:

What courts?????

 

https://www.icj-cij.org/

https://pca-cpa.org/en/home/

 

Much more control to take back I’d say.

I'm but a stupid 'merican..

But I just looked this up. Doesn't the UK leaving create a huge hole in EU finances?

 

So I'm not sure if they are trying to find a way to keep you in just to get revenue.