Tim Durrant Profile picture
Sep 12, 2018 7 tweets 3 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
Few thoughts on the #ERG proposals for the Irish border, an issue @awstojanovic and I wrote about back in June: instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/i…

The paper stresses that the ERG support the principle of no hard border, which will be welcome to all sides

(1)
Also says that customs checks won't be a problem - which is true if the Govt can swing the Facilitated Customs Arrangement, which both the EU and the ERG have problems with...

(2)
The paper points to an EU report, Smart Borders 2.0, as providing solutions to the customs questions. However, that report a) doesn't solve the problem and b) isn't an EU report (it was commissioned by the Parliament, it doesn't represent an EU proposal)

(3)
The ERG also propose 'equivalence', or mutual recognition, on goods and agricultural standards, so that there is no need for regulatory checks at the border... the EU has never agreed that with a non-member

(4)
The paper also proposes regulatory checks behind the border, which may be acceptable to the UK Government but less so for Ireland or for individual businesses, for whom it would represent a big new burden

(5)
Overall, I think this is a serious engagement with the issue, but doesn't really advance any significant new proposals - it's unlikely to break the backstop impasse ahead of the October Council, which @jl_owen wrote about here:

instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/irish-bor…

(6)
Also, geeks amongst us may be interested in this disclaimer - I wonder how many Govt ministers are also ERG-ers

(ends)

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More from @timd_IFG

Sep 24, 2018
A few thoughts on today's #nodeal notices - as others have said, these are some of the really juicy ones...

gov.uk/government/col…

(1/8)
This is the first time, AFAIK, that the Government has accepted in such stark terms that no deal will mean:

- disruption to supply chains
- potential for no flights or bus services between UK and EU, and between UK and other countries (including flights to US)

(2/8)
- extra red tape, as businesses have to re-register their products/services in an EU country
- real problems at the border, particularly around Dover/Calais
- hassle for individuals (pet passports, motor insurance)

(3/8)
Read 8 tweets
Sep 10, 2018
Interesting story in the Mail last week which didn't get much pick up - few thoughts below...

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6…
1. This says that the UK will negotiate bilateral deals with every EU country to ensure flights can continue if we leave without a deal. So, as @jl_owen says, no deal actually means 27 deals (plus all the ones we need with other countries that are currently negotiated by the EU)
2. But there's no clarity on when/whether these deals will be ready - on EU trade deals, DIT hasn't confirmed the rollover of any yet, and I think the same is true of other departments dealing with deals in their policy areas
Read 4 tweets

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