EU鈥檚 Juncker warns Britain 鈥榳e are all Irish鈥� on Brexit

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker speaks during a debate on the outcome of the 28-29 June EU summit during a plenary session at the European Parliament on July 3, 2018 in Strasbourg, eastern France. / AFP / FREDERICK FLORIN
  • Juncker addressed the European Parliament at the start of a crucial week for British Prime Minister Theresa May
  • "We will not accept the isolation of the Irish question..." he said

STRASBOURG: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday said the EU stood firmly with Ireland in Brexit talks, just ahead of a crunch UK cabinet meeting which he said the bloc will follow closely.
Juncker addressed the European Parliament at the start of a crucial week for British Prime Minister Theresa May who will gather her divided ministers on Friday to thrash out the trade ties Britain wants with the EU after Brexit.
鈥淲e have been waiting for months for the White Paper of 10 Downing Street and we will analyze it on its merits,鈥� Juncker said in French, referring to the May government鈥檚 expected proposal.
鈥淏ut I want to say here that we will not accept the isolation of the Irish question so that it remains the only unresolved issue at the end of the negotiations,鈥� he said.
鈥淎ll of us, we are Irish,鈥� concluded former Luxembourg prime minister Juncker, this time speaking in English.
Juncker鈥檚 comments reflected the EU鈥檚 refusal to advance on trade talks until a breakthrough was found on the stalled question of how to avoid border checks between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland after Brexit.
European Union president Donald Tusk also urged May to deliver when she assembles her warring ministers at her Chequers country retreat.
鈥淲e are now looking forward to the White Paper from the UK, and we very much hope that it will bring the necessary clarity, realism, and impetus to these negotiations,鈥� Tusk told MEPs.
However, Tusk concurred with Juncker that this must come with a satisfying answer on Ireland as well.
鈥淭he sooner we get a precise UK proposal on the Irish border, the better the chance to finalize the Brexit negotiations this year,鈥� he said.
In the buildup to her make-or-break cabinet meeting, the embattled May met on Tuesday with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, which will be followed by a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday.
Less than nine months before Britain leaves the EU in March 2019, the government has yet to set out exactly what it wants, and progress in the negotiations remains slow.