EU commits to give UK option of unilateral exit from customs union – Barnier

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said it was ready to offer Britain a unilateral exit from the customs union while maintaining the other elements of the backstop.

“EU commits to give UK the option to exit the Single Customs Territory unilaterally, while the other elements of the backstop must be maintained to avoid a hard border,” Mr Barnier said on Twitter 

His comments came after a meeting with the ambassadors of the remaining 27 EU states.

The Independent reports “The EU has rejected British demands for a major overhaul of the Brexit deal – instead tabling an offer likely to be unacceptable to Theresa May’s allies.”

UK negotiators have been trying to get legal way of escaping the Irish backstop arrangement, but Michel Barnier said that was only achievable if Britain left Northern Ireland in the customs agreement with the EU.

Via RTE