May BUCKLES on Brexit: N.Ireland WILL be ALIGNED with Republic – SHOCKWAVES rattle Britain
THERESA May is nearing a Brexit compromise with sources claiming she is set to “align” Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland.
By JOEY MILLAR
Express.co.uk
Mon, Dec 4, 2017
RTE is reporting a draft paper to be put forward by UK negotiators will offer “continued regulatory alignment” on the island of Ireland.
Mrs May looks set to concede there will be no divergence of single market and customs union rules on the island of Ireland – including Northern Ireland.
The paper will be supplied to the EU and Dublin later today ahead of crunch talks between Mrs May and Brussels leaders, RTE cited two “well-placed” sources as confirming.
The Irish broadcaster’s Europe editor Tony Connelly tweeted: “BREAKING: UK will concede that there will be no ‘regulatory divergence’ on the island of Ireland on the single market and customs union, acc to a draft text seen by RTE News.”
Speaking after the leaks, Philippe Lamberts, a Green MEP in the European Parliament, said he would “put money” on a deal being done today.
Nigel Farage responded to the leaks by tweeting: “Looks like yet more concessions.”
Mr Connelly tweted: “According to one version of the EU-UK draft: ‘In the absence of agreed solutions the UK will ensure that there continues to be no divergence from those rules of the internal market + customs union which, now or in the future, support North South cooperation +protection of the GFA.’
“The draft text on Ireland has since been updated to include the phrase “continued regulatory alignment” rather than ‘no regulatory divergence’, according to well-placed sources.
“The Irish text is part of an overall joint paper entitled The Joint Report from the Commission and the United Kingdom Negotiators on Progess. It’s 4-5 pages long, covering citizens rights, the financial settlement and the Irish border.”
And European Council president tweeted: “Tell me why I like Mondays! Encouraged after my phone call with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on progress on Brexit issue of Ireland. Getting closer to sufficient progress at December EU summit.”
The Rest…HERE
