Ireland stronger after David Davis’ attempt to derail deal

Leo Varadkar’s main task at the crucial EU summit will be to lock down the special deal on a frictionless border and ensure it is, what one official termed, “David Davis proofed”.

Ireland stronger after David Davis’ attempt to derail deal

By Juno McEnroe

Leo Varadkar’s main task at the crucial EU summit will be to lock down the special deal on a frictionless border and ensure it is, what one official termed, “David Davis proofed”.

British Brexit negotiators are scrambling to claw back respect and a secure footing in talks after the UK Brexit secretary did his best to undermine last week’s hard-fought deal.

But there is no walking back, no backsliding from the Brexit phase one conclusions. That will remain Ireland’s position. More importantly, the big EU guns are rolling in behind Dublin.

In fact, Davis’ attempt to derail an agreement by suggesting the deal promising no hard border and aligned regulations North and South was just a “statement of intent” if anything has focused minds and instead united EU figures.

Ironically it leaves Ireland in a stronger position. It looks certain now there will be a special clause in guidelines for the next phase of talks, on a future trade deal between Britain and the bloc, that the phase I deal is binding.

It is being flagged as the “David Davis amendment”, a sign that London’s posturing has in fact ensured there is a much stronger guarantee for Ireland.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barmier has also pledged that he will suspend the talks on trade and transition if Britain reneges on the phase one deal.

The meeting in Brussels of EU leaders will look to agree guidelines on trade talks, with EU council president Donald Tusk warning there is a tight ten-month window to conclude all negotiations.

Businesses here and in Britain want certainty on any new tariffs or trade deals. So it is important that Dublin also has a strong say here too. But it is understood Dublin wants to tone down, so to speak, the EU summit. “We totally respect where Britain is,” said a government source.

It is believed the guidelines for phase two will leave an “escape hatch” for London, where developments or changes to red line issues can be examined by the EU taskforce. This may arise if there were political developments in Westminster, or a desire to be more aligned to the customs union. While Tory Brexiteers might scoff at such a clause, the wording of this will be discreet, sources expect.

The reality of seismic shifts by London on Brexit was brought home yesterday with the leader of the largest party in the European Parliament saying a growing number of people in Britain supported a second referendum on EU membership.

Manfred Weber told MEPs in Strasbourg: “The British people realise that Brexit means losing many things, but not gaining anything.”

But these are Britain’s losses. Ireland’s losses must be minimised. As European Parliament Brexit Guy Verhofstadt told MEPs: “Ireland cannot become collateral damage of Brexit.”

Only a genuinely bulletproof and binding deal on the North this week among EU leaders will ensure this.

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