Northern Ireland

Barnier Brexit comments spark calls for cross-party push for 'special status'

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that agreement on a transition period to smooth Britain's exit from the EU was 'not a given'. Picture by AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert
European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that agreement on a transition period to smooth Britain's exit from the EU was 'not a given'. Picture by AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that agreement on a transition period to smooth Britain's exit from the EU was 'not a given'. Picture by AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

THERE were calls last night for a united push for special status for the north after Michel Barnier's warning that border checks will be "unavoidable" under UK plans to leave the single market and customs union.

The remarks from Brussels' chief Brexit negotiator, coupled with the revelation that the EU's draft withdrawal agreement will stipulate that Northern Ireland will effectively remain under EU law, are likely to buoy nationalists while unnerving unionists.

They come after the pre-Christmas conclusion to phase one of the Brexit negotiations was thought to have signalled a breakthrough in the stand-off between Britain and the EU.

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Mr Barnier said December's “joint report” at the conclusion of phase one had allowed for three options on Ireland – a solution through an overall new relationship; alternative solutions put forward by the UK that would avoid reinstating a border; and maintaining all existing regulatory rules and procedures — effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU’s customs union.

The latter measure, which is being floated in the absence of alternatives being tabled by the British government, is designed to safeguard commitments to the north-south economy and the requirements of the Good Friday Agreement.

It is likely to provoke unease among the DUP, whose Ian Paisley jnr this week called on the British government to adopt a "no surrender attitude to the EU bureaucrats".

Mr Barnier also warned that agreement on a transition period to smooth Britain's exit from the EU was "not a given".

The reaction from DUP MEP Diane Dodds to Mr Barnier's comments was comparatively measured but she again insisted that the "integrity of the UK must be preserved" by leaving the single market and customs union.

She claimed it was only the the EU which was "brandishing the threat of customs controls" – a move Mrs Dodds said would impact on companies on both sides of the border.

"The EU previously committed to finding 'flexible and imaginative' solutions to challenges facing the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland," she said.

"Today, Mr Barnier committed the EU to the status quo, seeking to put into legal text an agreement which would see the UK closely aligned with Brussels post-Brexit and narrowing the basis for talks on future relations."

But Sinn Féin gave the Brussels negotiator's remarks a positive reception.

MEP Matt Carthy said special designated status for the north within the EU was a "live project" and called for a broad alliance across Ireland to support such a move.

"It has been evident for anyone who has examined this matter that the only way in which a hardening of the Irish border can be avoided is for all of Ireland to remain part of the single market and customs union," he said.

"Anything less risks the imposition of border controls and the undermining of the Good Friday Agreement – it is therefore now time for all Irish political parties and the Irish government to unite in pursuing that goal."

SDLP Brexit spokeswoman Claire Hanna also welcomed what she described as Mr Barnier's "strong defence of Northern Ireland’s economic, social and political interests".

"It’s clear that the only way to avoid a hard border on this island is to maintain access to the single market and the customs union," she said.

"It really doesn’t matter how you dress it up to soften the blow to hardline Brexiteers – continued regulatory alignment, no regulatory divergence, a new customs union – the end result must be that in areas of north-south cooperation, our rules must mirror those of Europe."

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson accused Mr Barnier of "trying to play hardball".

"There need not be anything inevitable about border checks if a deep and comprehensive future relationship can be agreed in phase two of Brexit talks," he said.

"The phase one agreement recognised that co-operation and regulatory alignment on a number of areas between the EU and the UK would avoid the need for a hard border."