Brussels will use the Irish border issue to tie UK into a permanent post-Brexit customs union
EU capitals say the UK must accept key EU laws, as well as granting fishing rights, as part of a border compromise
BRUSSELS will look to use a UK-wide fudge on the Irish border to tie Britain into a permanent customs union after Brexit, The Sun can reveal.
European capitals believe there must be a clear “link” between what is agreed for the backstop solution and the terms of the future trade deal.
They say the UK must accept a “level playing field” binding it to follow key EU laws, as well as granting fishing rights, as part of a border compromise.
Member States believe legal constraints and the effort required to patch together a customs union at such short notice mean it should be long-lasting.
A senior diplomatic source told The Sun: “Whatever we do UK-wide there has to be a link with what will be the future relationship.
“You can’t say we do a customs union for two to three years and then they have an escape clause and can simply terminate it.”
Asked if capitals expect Britain to sign up to a similar customs arrangement in the political declaration on trade, they replied: “Yes, indeed.”
A second EU diplomat questioned why London would seek a UK-wide customs solution if it weren’t to be the bedrock for the future relationship.
They said: “The idea is the Customs Union is of such quality and sufficient enough assurances to obviate the need for the backstop.
“That can only be if it’s enduring, not time-limited, and therefore at least a baseline for the Political Framework.”
A third diplomat added: “If you have this UK-wide backstop, it very much the link to the future relationship, so this complicates discussions right now.”
The revelations are likely to infuriate Brexiteers and raise fears that a backstop fudge will keep Britain permanently in the bloc’s trade policies.In a customs union the UK would be unable to sign its own deals and would be bound by the terms of any FTAs Brussels agreed without our say.
Westminster would also have to agree to follow a large chunk of EU law in areas covering state aid, the environment and workers’ rights.
A fourth source said: “It is important that Britain would not undercut our own products on our own market in the all-UK Irish backstop.”
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Irish PM Leo Varadkar yesterday insisted that instability in Westminster meant the bloc cannot compromise on its Brexit stance.
Speaking in Helsinki, he said: “The difficulties that happen in the UK can’t allow us in any way to soften our position in my view.”
Meanwhile the Austrian press reported EU officials are upbeat that a Brexit deal can be sealed “in the next few days”.
THE SUN SAYS: A GRIM CHOICE
SO there it is, from the horse’s mouth. Brussels aims to force Britain to stay in its customs union and obey EU rules forever.
Diplomats admit to The Sun that the terms of the “Irish backstop” which Theresa May’s Cabinet is poised to back would then be deployed to lock us in its grip permanently.
Forget those trade deals with America, China, India, Canada or anywhere else.
All would be banned.
Despite us voting for Brexit. Despite MPs voting to leave the customs union.
Despite all the Prime Minister’s ambitious speeches about a global Britain.
To get a post-Brexit trade deal, we would have to swallow crippling conditions the EU does not impose on others.
Absurdly, it would retain control over the trading policy of the world’s fifth largest economy — by then a non-EU member. And, according to Ireland’s cocky PM Leo Varadkar, we would have to stick to all EU rules. Permanently.
Can the Tories really sign up to this?
Or will they stand and fight?
Some believe we can get out of it all once we have left, next March 29.
We’re not convinced. Even if Britain could, when have we ever done anything but stick slavishly to every letter of our international obligations?
We are not French, let’s face it.
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