Barnier says EU would allow permanent customs union if UK wants it

Michel Barnier, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, in a speech in Warsaw, Poland, said that the EU would agree to put a permanent customs union in the political declaration, the text drafting the UK and EU’s future relationship, should the UK choose to ask for one.

Barnier, in a speech entitled ‘Europe after Brexit’ at the College of Europe in Warsaw, warned that a no deal Brexit would have negative consequences, not only for the UK but also for the EU. He said that the first priority would be to secure the rights of the EU citizens living in the UK and British nationals in the EU.

Watch Barnier’s speech in full here

Barnier insisted that the Withdrawal Agreement represents a carefully balanced compromise and took two years to negotiate and reminded, is not open for renegotiation.

The EU, Barnier, who gave the speech as the British parliament once more voted against the Withdrawal Agreement, said, has “always been respectful of the UK’s choice” and never made a “punishment” out of the Brexit negotiations.

Via Euronews