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Other than staying in the customs union there hasn't been a permanent solution proposed for the NI/Eire border problem that doesn't shit all over the GFA.
The solution there seems to be to just ignore the border. The issue with the border is really whether some other WTO nation complains that we're giving Eire/EU favourable treatment. That would take a while to resolve so would give further opportunity to actually find a solution.
aggi-
The issue with the border is really whether some other WTO nation complains that we're giving Eire/EU favourable treatment.
BBC article upthread suggested that exemptions are possible for instances of National Security - presumably intended to allow much harder borders than WTO normal - and that it could be argued that maintaining the GFA is a National Security issue so could defend a non WTO border between NI/RoI
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Not just that. The BBC is piss poor in details.
There are also goods checks to be done to prevent NI becoming a way to get non EU compliant goods into ROI.
Even with mature borders like Zwitserland / Norway physical checks get done. ANPR won't work with such a messy undefined border.
The erg admitted there is currently no technical solution.
branwen
JWestland
Although the original EU position was that the UK would need to pick an off-the-shelf deal and no bespoke deal would be possible. Yet May's WA is a bespoke deal. The EU does soften, but glacially, certainly not fast enough for the rejigging of deals required now.
Of course the EU are going to state that they're not going to negotiate any more on May's WA, to say otherwise would be inherently foolish. But that doesn't mean they won't (I don't think they will).
I'm guessing that May is just going to keep pushing minor variations of her deal (rolling the turd in glitter or adding cherries on top as required) in a horrible game of chicken with the EU believing that the EU won't let us go out without a deal in place. If the EU doesn't blink (I don't think it will) then she'll be left scrabbling around for an extension.
Various quotes today about a 2nd ref taking a minimum of 22 weeks from start to finish, not enough time to get it done by the EU elections in May (22 weeks from today is 19th June). This is why the calls for a second referendum (without revoking A50 first) are essentially doomed.
I'd quite enjoy it if she was actually still clinging to her pre-referendum Remain beliefs and is purposely dithering in order to end up with no choice (her deal, and successive deals, all voted down; no deal not an option thanks to Parliament; out of extension time; not enough time for a 2nd ref; etc) but revoke A50, take the wrath and toddle off out of politics (2nd PM in a row to disappear leaving someone else to sort out a steaming pile of shit).
My predictions:-
Other than staying in the customs union there hasn't been a permanent solution proposed for the NI/Eire border problem that doesn't shit all over the GFA.