The EU is prepared to offer Britain a unilateral way out of the Customs Union as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement – provided the backstop continues to apply to Northern Ireland.
Michel Barnier announced the offer on Twitter this evening in a bid to break the ongoing impasse in the talks.
Noting that the UK would not be “forced into customs union against its will,” he said the proposal would allow the UK to leave the Customs Union of its own accord, once all the other elements of the backstop to avoid a hard border in Ireland were maintained.
4/5 EU commits to give UK the option to exit the Single Customs Territory unilaterally, while the other elements of the backstop must be maintained to avoid a hard border. UK will not be forced into customs union against its will.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 8, 2019
5/5 The EU will continue working intensively over the coming days to ensure that the UK leaves the EU with an agreement.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 8, 2019
The offer is similar to the original backstop proposal – which would see a joint UK/EU customs territory established in Northern Ireland.
That proposal was opposed by the DUP and sections of the Conservative Party who claimed it would create a border in the Irish Sea.
This evening, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said Mr Barnier's offer was "neither realistic nor sensible."
"It disrespects the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom," he said.
"This is an attempt to get ahead of a possible blame game and appear positive when in reality it is going backwards to something rejected a year ago.
"We need to work for a sensible deal which can work for everyone in Northern Ireland. It is possible but there must be less intransigence in Brussels."
It comes after UK Prime Minister Theresa May this afternoon urged the EU to help get the deal over the line with one 'final push.'
File photo of the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, 08-03-2019. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsThe Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meanwhile, called on the UK Government to change its position and noted that a new poll published in The Irish Times had found that a clear majority of people in Northern Ireland support the backstop.
"If Northern Ireland and the people of Northern Ireland and Northern Irish society is in favour of the backstop, why would the UK House of Commons prevent the backstop from applying to Northern Ireland?" he asked.
"If they don't wish it to apply to Great Britain, that is their decision.
"Why would they go against the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland, the majority of politicians in Northern Ireland, business, civil society and farmers in Northern Ireland - who all accept and agree that the backstop should be part of the Withdrawal Agreement?"
Mr Barnier tweeted the offer after briefing the EU27 Ambassadors and the European Parliament today on the ongoing talks with the UK.
He said the EU would continue to work intensively over the coming days to ensure the UK leaves the EU with an agreement.
