The European Parliament’s Brexit group issued a statement today, reiterating that the Brexit agreement must include Irish backstop solution. The group noted that the “Withdrawal Agreement is fair and cannot be re-negotiated. This applies especially to the backstop since it is the guarantee that under no circumstances will there be a hardening of the border on the island of Ireland while at the same time safeguarding the integrity of the Single Market.”
Also, “the EU remains clear, firm and united on this even if the negotiated backstop is not meant to be used. Therefore, the BSG insists that, without such an “all-weather” backstop-insurance, the European Parliament will not give its consent to the Withdrawal Agreement.”
Additionally after rejection by UK Commons, the group urged “the UK Government must work together with all political parties in the House of Commons to overcome this deadlock. It expects the UK side to come back as quickly as possible with a positive and viable proposal on the way forward.”
Separately, EU Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier rejected the idea of time-limited backstop. He said “We have to maintain the credibility of this reassurance … it cannot be time-limited… It’s not just about Ireland.”
