In the dispute over the solution to the Irish border, the British Attorney General and Brexit negotiator Geoffrey Cox, according to a newspaper report, has abandoned calls for a specific deadline and a one-sided exit mechanism. These rejected by the EU demands for the so-called backstop would be considered too harsh, reported the „Telegraph“ yesterday, citing familiar with the Cox plans ministers.
Cox is now trying to negotiate with Brussels as a compromise to achieve an improved „arbitration mechanism“ for ending the „backstop“.
The „backstop“ is intended to prevent a hard border between the EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland and thus also a resurgence of the Northern Ireland conflict. If necessary, he should intervene if the UK and the EU do not conclude a trade agreement in time.
However, Brexit hardliners in the British parliament reject the current regulation because there is no concrete end date for it and they therefore fear that they will permanently stay in the customs union with the EU after they leave the European Union. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had recently promised to be more accommodating on this issue.
