EU set to back a high-tech solution to Irish border issue — as Boris Johnson slams PM’s ‘car crash’ Brexit plan
EU officials are working on plans for a high-tech solution to the Irish border issue after Brexit.
The significant breakthrough came as Boris Johnson again branded the PM’s Chequers plan a disaster.
EU negotiator Michel Barnier is working on a plan to use technology to minimise border checks in a major boost to Theresa May’s chances of clinching a deal.
The proposals are due to be issued to the 27 member states after the Tory conference ends next month.
The confidential document, seen by The Times, stated: “The biggest unsolved problem is Northern Ireland. There is a political mobilisation in the UK in this regard. Therefore we are trying to clarify the EU position.”
Officials on both sides have been looking at ways to soften the Irish backstop deadlock to get it passed.
In the event of No Deal, the EU wants a backstop to effectively create a border down the Irish Sea.
But the PM has always said any border would be unacceptable and the UK must be seen as a whole.
Meanwhile BoJo launched his attack in his Daily Telegraph column.
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He said Brexit would end up a “total write off” unless Mrs May shreds her current proposal.
And he insisted the plans would see Northern Ireland being “annexed” by Brussels, and Britain effectively being kept in the EU.
He added: “If the Brexit negotiations continue on this path they will end, I am afraid, in a spectacular political car crash.”
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