EU fears UK is rowing back on Irish border and 'level playing field' - sources

18 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

On 9/8/2019 at 7:31 PM, puipuitom said:

The EU will NEVER accept such a hole in their controlled borders anymore.

That's is the funniest thing I have seen for ages. Over 20 EU countries are the holes that you mention that the EU will never accept.  Thank you.

There are actually 17 EU members who have a land border with a non member.

However, there are a total 0f 41 such borders. (Source)

Seven of these are with a Schengen state, so there are no controls over people crossing. There are, though, customs controls over goods in both directions. As there are on all but three of the other borders.

What those controls are depends on the agreements between the non member state and the EU. For some examples see Brexit: What can UK learn from other external EU borders?

What about the remaining three? These are France's border with Monaco, Italy's border with San Marino and Italy's border with Vatican City. These borders with so-called micro states have minimal, if any, controls on both people and goods.

Of course, none of this means there aren't holes through which people, goods or both can be smuggled. Not even the Iron Curtain could stop that!