Opinion

Stakes are raised in Brexit negotiations

We are approaching a crucial juncture in the Brexit negotiations with pressure growing on the British government to make significant concessions to resolve the border issue.

It is an issue that has been cranked up over recent days with a leaked European Commission document saying it is essential the UK commits to avoiding a hard border by remaining part of the EU customs union and continues to abide by the rules of the internal market.

This indicates the Irish government is pushing hard for concrete reassurances on border arrangements ahead of the EU leaders' summit in December which Theresa May hopes will open the way for trade negotiations to begin.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaking at a British-Irish Council meeting in Jersey yesterday, said in his view the only way to avoid a hard border is if the UK as a whole or Northern Ireland continues to apply the rules of the customs union and single market although that did not mean the British must be members of those bodies.

What he wants to see is a `bespoke solution' while there are reports suggesting the Irish government is demanding Britain signs up to a range of EU rules to ensure an open trade border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Mr Varadkar is right to press for definite arrangements on the border that are in the best interests of everyone on this island.

The Irish government has considerable influence in the EU on this particular matter and the European leaders will know that Theresa May's position is exceptionally weak.

She is also trying to use this weakness to her advantage by setting a time for the UK to leave the EU, 11pm on March 29, 2019.

The British prime minister will be calculating that the hardline Brexiteers in her party will back her on the basis that she is their best hope of delivering an exit from the EU.

There are high stakes at play in all this and the British will want to avoid major concessions on the border but they are also keen to move to the next stage of talks.

We are on the countdown to Brexit and this is the time to safeguard the interests of citizens north and south.