EU dismisses UK post-Brexit plan for Irish Border

European Union officials are set to reject a solution proposed by the UK to solve the Irish border problem post-Brexit.

Although an official proposal hasn’t been made, the UK believes that the EU’s "backstop" solution to maintain Northern Ireland within the single market and the customs union, in order to facilitate trade and avoid a hard border, should also apply to the rest of the UK.

The European Commission is against this plan because if the special status offered to Northern Ireland were to apply to the rest of the country, it would mean the UK can access the privileges of being inside the customs union and single market without being tied to its obligations.

One possible final solution would be for Theresa May to backtrack on one of her main pledges, instead remaining in the customs union after Brexit, with all its privileges and obligations.

A cross-party group of MP’s wants to force a vote in the House of Commons next week to remain within the customs union, thus avoiding the risk of a hard border in Ireland.

The Irish question is posing to be one of the hardest issues to solve in the EU and UK negotiations, with Westminster having yet to propose a solution that the EU will accept.

Britain's former ambassador to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers said the possibility of the UK finding a technological solution to solve the Irish issue is "a fantasy island unicorn model" for Europe.

A Government spokesman said on Wednesday: "We have been clear that we will protect Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market.

"That commitment was set out in December's Joint Report which also includes our guarantee of avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

"As the PM's letter to Donald Tusk said, we have made our position on aspects of the draft Commission Protocol clear. We have agreed that the areas covered in the draft must reflect those that meet our shared commitments. And we are continuing an intensive work programme to engage on all the scenarios set out in the Joint Report."