Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.British government proposals to give the Northern Ireland assembly control over a new Irish backstop are likely to be rejected by the EU, the Irish government has warned.
Foreign minister Simon Coveney said that the nascent plan give Stormont a major say over the single market regulations – drawn up in London to placate the DUP – would likely not fly.
“I think there’s certainly a concern at an EU level that a devolved institution in Northern Ireland could have a veto about how a single market operates or a border on the single market operates. So it’s not as straightforward as some people are suggesting,” Mr Coveney said.
He added that the lack of worked out policy suggestions from the UK was a “a source of real frustration” on his side of the table.
EU officials say the British government has still not presented “concrete proposals” for a replacement to the Irish backstop in the withdrawal agreement.
British negotiators however earlier this month did draw up a concept of giving the Northern Ireland assembly control over how EU agricultural legislation would be applied in the north.
But EU officials stress that agriculture is just one area that would need to be covered by the backstop.
Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, on Friday warned that what the British had brought with them as nowhere near good enough.
“What’s been put forward so far falls very far short of what we would need,” he said.
His comments follow another day of talks in Brussels, where chief negotiator David Frost has been meeting with Michel Barnier’s team.
But EU diplomats worry that, without a customs union between Northern Ireland and the republic, there would be too many loopholes in the single market. They are also concerned that EU businesses could be put at a disadvantage.
A UK government spokesman said: “The UK has presented some ideas on an all-island [agrifood] solution. Further discussions between teams will take place next week.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments