Brexit agreement in a matter of weeks says favorable North Irish party in May

BELFAST / BRUSSELS (Reuters) – An agreement on Brexit is "eminently possible" in the next few weeks, but there can be no regulatory barriers in the UK, said Tuesday the chairman of the Irish Northern Party, which supports British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Less than six months before the UK's exit from the European Union, the way the world's fifth largest economy and its pre-eminent international financial center will trade with the EU after Brexit will not be clear.

One wonders about ways to avoid border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland if the parties fail to reach a free trade agreement post -Brexit.

May and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland, which supports its minority government, have opposed EU proposals to keep Northern Ireland – but not Britain – de facto in the world. economic area of ​​the EU.

Before a meeting with EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels, the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, reiterated her refusal of any new regulatory or customs barrier within the United Kingdom. United, while asserting that an agreement was possible with political will.

"I want to see an agreement that works for everyone and I think it's eminently possible if the political will is there for that to happen," Foster told BBC Radio Ulster. "I really hope that there will be an agreement in several weeks."

Brexit's European negotiators believe that a divorce agreement with Britain is "very close," diplomatic sources told Reuters last week, saying a compromise on the future Irish border was in sight. thu.

A strong Brexit activity is expected in the coming days.

Barnier will inform the Commission on Wednesday and the EU ambassadors will meet in Luxembourg on Friday. The negotiators of the European leaders met Monday in Brussels.

However, even if May makes a deal, he is not sure if she can sell it at home, where she will need the approval of the British Parliament.

Lawmaker Steve Baker said that at least 40 lawmakers from his conservative party were willing to vote against his possible Brexit deal if he left the UK "half-owned and half-off" 39; EU.

BLIND BREXIT?

If lawmakers refuse an agreement, the month of May could fall and Britain could abandon the EU without agreement, which, according to investors, would weaken the West, frighten the financial markets and block the arteries of commerce.

The United Kingdom would move from a smooth trade with the EU to a customs regime established by the World Trade Organization for external states.

"Colleagues will not tolerate a half-and-half Brexit," said Baker, who served as Brexit's junior minister in the May government, until his resignation in protest against his proposals.

If 40 of its legislators voted against a possible agreement, the fate of the government and the exit process would depend on the opposition Labor Party, which said it would vote against almost any deal that could conclude the month of may.

Brexite experts accept the short-term economic difficulties, but say that Britain will prosper in the long run if it is separated from what it sees as an experience of German-dominated unity and spending. excessive social costs financed by debt.

A "difficult" Brexit would entail additional tariffs of more than 3 billion euros per year for German companies, said a German institute Tuesday, adding that German exports to Britain could fall by 57%.

According to the May proposals, Britain will seek to establish a free trade area for goods with the EU, mainly by accepting a "common regulation" for goods and British participation in EU agencies providing goods permits.

Some Brexiteers experts say that these proposals would guarantee the EU to retain control over parts of the British economy and would thus run counter to the spirit of its overt commitment to leave. the EU Customs Union and the single market.