Uk:Brussels is looking at limiting the legal power the EU would wield over Northern Ireland as part of contentious “backstop” plans, as it seeks to “de-dramatise” what negotiators regard as the biggest remaining obstacle to a Brexit deal.
The European Commission’s original proposal, issued in March, included highly intrusive provisions that would give EU courts, customs authorities and regulators near unimpeded authority over the province to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
But one senior EU diplomat said it might be possible to smooth out the edges — or “arrondir les angles” to make the backstop “a little bit” more politically palatable for the UK. This includes limiting the jurisdiction of EU courts and the powers of EU authorities to perform checks on UK territory.
Since the backstop is intended as an integral part of the UK’s withdrawal treaty, agreement on the measure is vital if the two sides are to reach a Brexit deal.
Brussels’ search for ways to diminish UK concerns about its plans come as the EU has also signalled it could “fudge” another contentious area — and agree a relatively vague blueprint on future ties with Britain — it if helps Theresa May avoid a “no deal” outcome.
The UK prime minister has embarked on a diplomatic push to convince leading EU powers to soften their stance, and met France’s Emmanuel Macron on Friday. Britain sees Paris as the largest obstacle to a Brexit agreement.
The bloc’s original plans for the backstop, which would be triggered if a UK-EU trade deal failed to avoid a hard border, were roundly rejected by the UK.
Some Brexiters have compared them to the annexation of Northern Ireland’s economy, while Mrs May has said that no UK prime minister could accept dividing the UK’s economy along the Irish Sea.
