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BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday that a possible prolongation of Britain's post-Brexit transition period would not lessen the need for Ireland to have one. "reinforcement" to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland.
On the third day of the EU summit in Brussels, he also told reporters that it would be up to British Prime Minister Theresa May to decide whether she should challenge the opposition of her union allies Northern Ireland and accept the support proposed by the EU, which could potentially create trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the British mainland.
It should be a "judgment" that May should make, but added that without Irish support, any treaty of withdrawal might not be ratified by the European Parliament. He acknowledged that May was facing a difficult domestic political situation, governing a minority government with internal divisions on the Brexit issue.
Varadkar also warned again that a return of customs posts at the border with Northern Ireland could result in a return to violence in the British province:
"It's definitely something that's in my head, as a potential consequence if we're wrong."
On the subject of the extension of the British transition period, he said: "I am open to the idea of an extension or a longer transition period, but this is not the case. Is not an alternative to a legally binding Irish system, so certainly not an alternative, it's just something that could be part of the mix. "
(Report by Alastair Macdonald and Antonia Kerrigan, edited by Gabriela Baczynska)
