Are We Going To Be Able To Avoid A Hard Border With The Eu?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-41936931
It's in everyone's interest to cooperate on this but it seems to be proving a stumbling block.

[jim360]

This is a very complicated issue because it seems to require reconciling positions that are polar opposites of each other. It could take a very long time to find the right balance, if there even is one.

But sure, let's just charge out of the EU regardless, and sod the difficulties and chaos that could then ensue.

[naomi24]

Ahhh, never mind Jim. It'll sort - one way or another.

[jim360]

I'm sure it will, but it may take more time than we're giving ourselves.

Or perhaps a hard deadline will focus people's minds. We'll see.

[naomi24]

It may or it may not. No point fretting over it.

[ToraToraTora]

well necessity is the mother of invention jim!

[jim360]

Well, quite. I have less important things to fret over anyway.

[youngmafbog]

// It could take a very long time to find the right balance, if there even is one.

But sure, let's just charge out of the EU regardless, and sod the difficulties and chaos that could then ensue. //

Did you really intend to write those two sentences one after the other? Or do you see it as a way of permanently delaying the leaving of the EU?


TTT, I suspect things will pan out. One thing is for sure if you give it more time all you will be doing is delaying the inevitable hard border, especially with comments like this:

"It will be "essential" for the UK to abide by EU rules on the single market and customs union to avoid a hard border in Ireland, the European Commission has suggested."

[jim360]

Yes, they are meant to follow each other. No, I do not mean looking to delay arbitrarily. But it seems important to resolve issues like this before we leave, rather than during or after.

[youngmafbog]

Except jim, if you say we cannot leave until it is resolved it never will be. Leavers like you will ensure that!

[naomi24]

^ I agree.

[jim360]

Ah man, you foiled my secret plans.

[naomi24]

Jim, your plans were never secret. ;o)

[Gromit]

Jim360,
I am very impressed that you are able to ensure that we never leave the EU. How did you acquire this great power ?

[Gromit]

I am sure the DUP have friends who will ensure that whatever kind of border we have, they can bypass it.

[NoMercy]

Those who carry out this surgical practice do so under the guise of a "medical condition" where circumcision is indicated. More often than not NHS surgeons refuse to perform the surgery for religious purposes.

[NoMercy]

Wrong thread ^^

[Baldric]

We have to be circumcised to leave the EU?
I might reconsider my leave vote after all.

[Togo]

There was never any other outcome than a hard Brexit from day one. The EU have deliberately delayed and inhibited progress on any other prospect at every turn. They gambled on, and have encouraged the assistance of the UK vassals to the EU to derail the process and even now, as the date is set, announce that article 50 is reversible after all. This is of course after initially pronouncing that it was irreversible. You would have to wait a while for a "hard" Brexit after such a procedure methinks Baldric. :))

[Khandro]

If the North remains in the UK and the South remains in the EU, then it follows that the border has to change - that's a simple fact.
Other countries border on the EU and can be used as models. I travel frequently in and out of Switzerland passing through a police presence without much of a problem.

[whiskeryron]

There is a border at present between The I R & Northern Ireland there always has been. If we do not want to go back to a manned border the answer is fairly simple. Each side decides to sign a trade agreement declaring there will be honest & above board trading between them & no contraband will be carried. Then every so often there will be stop & search checks carried out on both sides with heavy fines for anyone breaking the laws.