Friday, July 20, 2018

UK PM calls for EU to rethink Brexit negotiating position over Northern Ireland

British prime minister Theresa May has called on the European Union to evolve its Brexit negotiating position - and said a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland cannot happen.

On a visit to Belfast, Mrs. May called on Brussels to engage with her White Paper - a plan for a post-Brexit customs arrangement that would see a common rulebook for trade in goods. 

The prime minister said the so-called backstop option the EU is proposing to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union if a deal can't be reached with the UK was neither acceptable nor necessary.

IN: "I've said consistently…"
OUT: "…resuming constructive discussions"
DUR: 43 seconds