Juncker warns UK 'no-deal' Brexit is possible, EU preparing to cushion blow
By Caoimhe Toman
Date: Friday 22 Jun 2018
(Sharecast News) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the Irish parliament on Thursday that the EU was making preparations in order to cushion the blow in the case of a no-deal Brexit, an option that was becoming increasingly very likely.
With a summit of European leaders in Brussels looming on the horizon for the following week and due to the deadlock in Brexit negotiations thus far, Juncker said that the EU was preparing against the scenario of a breakdown in talks and studying what options were availabl to keep the peace in Northern Ireland.
Juncker is confident that even under a worst-case scenario, the current proposed 'backstop solution' for the Irish problem - which would see Northern Ireland effectively staying in the customs union and single market - would ensure peace on the island.
The UK government on the other hand is refusing to accept that solution as the only viable option.
Downing Street has proposed that the UK as a whole should remain in the customs union for a period of time post-Brexit until a technological solution is found, but the EU believes that only Northern Ireland should be granted those rights, especially since the UK strongly wishes to put a stop to the free movement of people and to avoid single market regulations.
Juncker told Irish MPs and senators in a joint-session of parliament in Dublin: "With pragmatism comes realism. As the clock to Brexit ticks down, we must prepare for every eventuality, including no deal. This is neither a desired nor a likely outcome. But it is not an impossible one. And we are getting ready just in case.
"We will earmark €120m (£105m) for a new peace programme which has done so much in breaking down barriers between communities in Northern Ireland and the border counties.2
He assured the Irish parliament that "no deal was as good as membership of the EU."
As a result of the uncertainty of the Irish issue, the Irish customs authorities are looking into introducing "Ryanair-type" passport controls on ferries and private jets and helicopters post-Brexit, due to the restrictions on the free movement of people that Brexit would impose.
Currently, under common travel area agreements, citizens from both sides are not required to show passports when crossing from one country to the other, but that could change with Brexit, with "Ryanair-type" controls checking passengers coming to and from Ireland.
Tony Buckley, former assistant general secretary at the Irish Revenue Commission said: "We've a new third country on our border that means we have to look at helicopter trips, boat trips people just crossing the border, things that never got discussed before."
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