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Sadly, the only article that Google will show me on this subject is from Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/europe/20180925 ... proposals/

If you read it then take it with a grain of salt considering the source.

In any case I watch Euronews quite a lot and they've been talking about Theresa May getting 'humiliated' by the EU over her Chequers Brexit plan.

The EU is setting up for a confrontation in which the UK will have to go with a hard exit and restore their borders to pre-Schengen status.

The matter of Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland and the EU is then at issue.

The EU is demanding that the border remain open and they also want all EU rules and regulations applied to Northern Ireland (NI)...effectively severing NI from the UK.

It's been very interesting listening to the language used by the EU spokespeople on this topic. A recurring theme is that both Ireland and NI 'belong' to the EU.

Theresa May, to her credit, is now saying that there probably won't be an exit deal in place when the Brexit takes place next March. If so then there is going to be some sort of confrontation over NI because the EU people seem dead set on wresting NI away from the UK.

   

It is but one source of contention. The problem with the British Conservative Party is that since Brexit it hasn’t been able to decide what sort of deal it wants from Brussels. A desperate Theresa May wrongly thought she could bypass Barnier and force a deal with individual countries and she has been put right about that. However, opposing the idea of keeping only NI in the EU customs union is one subject where the UK government seems to have been consistent and logical in what it wants. One problem is that Sinn Fein will almost certainly be the largest political party in NI within the next decade and will want closer ties with the EU.

   

The UK/NI border has been open to people since the 50's, part of something called
the Common Travel Area.
This actually predates the Coal&Steel Agreement that started the EUSSR.


If the Remoaners had brought up this border issue during the referendum, it might
have been the thing that stopped Brexit. But it was mentioned maybe twice.


Th EU will threaten absolutely everything to keep the UK in the EUSSR,
so it's no surprise they are trying to seize NI, just like Kosovo.
It's what they do, empire building.

   

The Irish border got virtually no coverage in the Brexit referendum debate which is odd given that it was always going to be the only land border Britain had with the EU if it left. The irony here is that the Brexiteers may end up helping Sinn Fein’s election prospects North and South by bringing in a hard border in NI. The thing is that Britain has already promised not to bring in a hard border:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... der-brexit

I see various Conservatives are now pushing a straight Canada option without the pluses. That would offer less access to the EU market but would be an off-the-shelf solution acceptable to the EU that would also fulfil Brexit promises on immigration and trade.

   

Given that the UK and ROI will retain the Common Travel Area you must also consider that both countries are not a part of the Schengen Area and are the only two countries of the 28 that have the Opt Out option. This make the border issue less of a concern. There are options available for a soft border. The EU are pushing their so called "Backstop" option that will put the EU/UK in the Irish Sea but neither the UK or ROI want this. Given that most or Irelands trade is with the UK they'll want as frictionless border as Britain. It's unfortunate that Ireland's Taoiseach Varadkar seems to be an EU stooge and mouthpiece.

   

The challenges will depend on what sort of deal Britain gets. Smuggling is already a problem and could become much more so. BTW Varadkar’s position has been popular in his country so far. Brexit has created real uncertainty about the future of NI.

   

Because the Kremlin frequently makes this sort of thing up in order to divide the West, and Sputnik is their mouthpiece.

   

Wrong.
It is the EU creating all the division.

Oh, right, the EU is ruled from Russia now, just like the USA.

   

I think N. Ireland is too loyal to the Crown to join the Republic. I suspect the UK will hold a second referendum and reverse course on Brexit.

   

Then why is the only news source on this 100% funded by the Kremlin?

   

That’s no longer true. Ireland exports far more to the US than Britain these days:

https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/ireland/tradestats

What is true is that much of Ireland’s trade goes through Britain via places like Dover. Since Ireland is certainly staying in the EU it’s hardly surprising that Varadkar is following the party line.

   

I doubt very much there will be another referendum, no one has the appetite for one. If there were then They may well find increased support for leaving. I think Labour is suggesting that another referendum will not have the option of remaining.

   

Who knows anymore. I want to return to the good ole days of the USSR vs the USA, at least then the world was somewhat predictable.

   

Once SF takes over - which is just a matter of time now - NI could enter a long period of staying within the UK for purely financial reasons.

   

Yes It's true with regards to the US, I meant within the EU bloc that the UK was it's biggest trading partner.
https://www.independent.ie/business/bre ... 09434.html

As for Varadkar, I think he's making a mistake. Trying to play hardball with Britain when there is no desire for that in ROI. Like the recent "banning" British planes from Irish skies debacle. He ended up looking like an eejit.
http://www.thejournal.ie/factcheck-taoi ... 9-Jul2018/

   

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