EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier criticized UK’s backstop proposal regarding Irish border. He said that “our backstop cannot be extended to the whole UK. Why? Because it has been designed for the specific situation of Northern Ireland.” And he emphasized that “what is feasible for a territory the size of Northern Ireland is not necessarily feasible for the whole UK.”
On the other hand, UK spokesman for PM May said that UK will never accept a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. And he countered-criticized that European Commission’s proposals do not achieve maintaining the integrity of UK. And that’s the reason why May put forward its own backstop solutions for customs in Brexit talks.
UK published document on temporary Brexit customs arrangements earlier this week.
