The UK government is committed to avoiding building any physical infrastructure at the border with Ireland after the country withdraws from the European Union, UK Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesperson told reporters, stressing that Britain will be leaving the EU single market and customs union.
He also noted that Brexit minister David Davis made it clear that the final solution can only be found "in the context of the future relationship."
READ MORE: UK Trade Secretary Fox Warns No Hard Border Issue Before Brexit Trade Deal
The announcement comes a week after the Irish government issued a warning to Theresa May, that Northern Ireland will not tolerate the UK-EU trade agreement that implies a possibility of a hard border.
Certainly a hard border in Northern Ireland would be bad news for all of us. But in threatening a veto, Dublin has missed the point that Brexit with no trade deal would be very bad indeed for Eire’s economy.
— Roger Helmer (@RogerHelmerMEP) November 26, 2017
At the same time, Dublin has constantly urged the UK to stay in the EU customs union after Brexit so as to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland.
I'm SICK of BS about Irish border. Outside single market, UK is OBLIGED under WTO most-favoured nation rules to have controls at ALL border crossings, except with countries it has free-trade deals with. NOT A MATTER OF 'WE DON'T WANT THEM, UP TO EU/ROI'. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM
— Helen Joyce (@HJJoyceEcon) 27 ноября 2017 г.
Britain is set to leave the EU in March 2019, however, Brexit negotiations have been stuck over the past few months, with the main issues, including the single market and customs arrangements, far from being resolved. The Irish border issue prevents the UK from moving on to the next phase of its talks with the EU in December to discuss a final Brexit trade deal and transition terms.
