Backstops and hard borders

[Old Greg]

EEA not on the table, backstop won't be adopted, so as it stands today brexit is not compatible with the GFA as it's English voters that are fanatical against those two options.

BTW, I am English born and bred so not attacking the English from the outside. I am embarrassed and ashamed by Little Englanders though who still think we're fighting WW2. They really need to get over themselves.

Doogie's question was what can parliament do. Parliament can agree the withdrawal agreement.

[chopper]

EEA not on the table

The EEA doesn't solve the Irish border issue. The EEA gives you the regulatory alignment, but it doesn't bring Customs Union.

Being in the EEA comes through one of two channels - either being an EU member, or being in Efta. However, Efta is incompatible with the Customs Union. From Efta:
Frequently asked questions on EFTA, the EEA, EFTA membership and Brexit | European Free Trade Association

If the UK remains in a customs union with the EU, could it still join EFTA?

Art. 56.3 of the EFTA Convention states that a new EFTA member state ‘shall apply to become a party to the free trade agreements between the Member States on the one hand and third states, unions of states or international organisations on the other.’ As a member of a customs union, a country acceding to EFTA could not comply with this obligation. EFTA membership does not preclude from entering into a customs arrangement with the EU; existing EFTA countries govern their relation to the EU through different instruments.

It is the UK who chose to leave, it is up to us to come up with the alternative solutions.

[Old Greg]

The EEA doesn't solve the Irish border issue. The EEA gives you the regulatory alignment, but it doesn't bring Customs Union.

Being in the EEA comes through one of two channels - either being an EU member, or being in Efta. However, Efta is incompatible with the Customs Union. From Efta:
Frequently asked questions on EFTA, the EEA, EFTA membership and Brexit | European Free Trade Association



It is the UK who chose to leave, it is up to us to come up with the alternative solutions.

EEA + is what is needed.

[d000hg]

It could pass the withdrawal agreement. It could legislate to withdraw A50. Two examples for you.

Passing the agreement would be viewed as a total betrayal of the union, Ireland have made this totally clear. Are these the most realistic options you can think of how it could happen because these are both really scraping the barrel of possibility and desirability.

I suppose just possibly "we have to revoke A50 because we cannot leave the EU without rupturing the union" could happen but can you imagine?!

[chopper]

EEA + is what is needed.

You mean, like EEA, plus customs union, plus having a say - maybe some commissioners, maybe some elected representatives?

If only there was a solution for that.

[d000hg]

It is the UK who chose to leave, it is up to us to come up with the alternative solutions.

The EU has made it clear they are not prepared to entertain further negotiation. Of course that doesn't mean they won't, but that is their position. They are not obligated to listen to our ideas at all.

It is pretty daft that we seem to be in a situation A50 doesn't actually allow us to leave. I suppose a peculiarity to the UK and Ireland but a)didn't anyone think of this when we joined b)why did the backstop only really become such a huge issue after Chequers when in hindsight it is the biggest problem to Brexit?

[Old Greg]

Passing the agreement would be viewed as a total betrayal of the union, Ireland have made this totally clear. Are these the most realistic options you can think of how it could happen because these are both really scraping the barrel of possibility and desirability.

I suppose just possibly "we have to revoke A50 because we cannot leave the EU without rupturing the union" could happen but can you imagine?!

Waffle waffle waffle. You asked what parliament could do. I told you. You can wax lyrical about 'total betrayal of the union', but it is within the power of parliament to cancel Brexit, to leave the EU in a way that is compatible with the GFA, or to leave in a way that is incompatible with the GFA.

[Old Greg]

You mean, like EEA, plus customs union, plus having a say - maybe some commissioners, maybe some elected representatives?

If only there was a solution for that.

Having a say and elected representatives is not necessary.

[Old Greg]

The EU has made it clear they are not prepared to entertain further negotiation. Of course that doesn't mean they won't, but that is their position. They are not obligated to listen to our ideas at all.

It is pretty daft that we seem to be in a situation A50 doesn't actually allow us to leave. I suppose a peculiarity to the UK and Ireland but a)didn't anyone think of this when we joined b)why did the backstop only really become such a huge issue after Chequers when in hindsight it is the biggest problem to Brexit?

A50 does permit the UK to leave.

[TestMangler]

A50 does permit the UK to leave.

Jeeses, Dhooooog is displaying oPM/Vetran levels of non-understanding.