IRISH prime minister Leo Varadkar has spoken of the importance of the other EU nations remaining united as “Team 27” in the next phase of negotiations with the UK.
The Taoiseach spoke after a meeting with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Dublin to discuss the upcoming talks on the future relationship between the EU and the UK, including on trade, days before Brexit.
Varadkar was asked about an alleged comment in an interview with the BBC yesterday morning that the EU would hold the upper hand in the talks.
He said he had actually used the term “strong hand” but went on: “Ireland will be friends to the United Kingdom into the future, we want to be friends with our nearest neighbour. But there should be no doubt that we are on ‘Team EU’, we are part of the 27 and maintain solidarity with all the member states and European institutions that showed solidarity with us over the past two or three years.
“I think if you see this as a contest, the European Union is in a very strong position – we’re 27 countries, we have a population of 450 million people and the single market is the largest economy in the world.
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“But I don’t think we have to see it as a contest. There is a possibility for us to work together with the United Kingdom over the next few months and come to a future relationship and a trade agreement that’s mutually beneficial and that’s the spirit in which we will be entering these talks.”
He also suggested the door would be left open for the UK to return to the fold. Varadkar said: “On Friday, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union, we’ll say goodbye to an old friend. We hope it works out for them. But if it does not, there will always be a seat kept for them at the table.”
Varadkar said he was “ambitious” about the future EU/UK relationship but warned there was also a need for “realism”. “We need to start a new relationship between the EU and the UK on a firm and honest footing,” he said.
“And that means a level playing field. This is very much in Ireland’s interests, as well as that of the European Union as a whole.”
He said achieving a trade deal by the end of 2020 would be “very challenging”, adding: “Time is short and a negotiating mandate will be agreed at the EU Council in March, but we’re up for it.
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"And we agree [himself and Barnier] that it’s important as ever that we enter the next phase united and in a positive spirit, and we do.”
Varadkar added that the second phase of Brexit will be different to the first.
“In the first phase, there were three very definite objectives. Protecting citizens rights, EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU, financial settlements and making sure that the specific issues to Ireland were looked after and that’s all been done,” he went on. “This phase is different. There isn’t a separate objective related to Ireland. But I think our influence will remain strong, relationships have been built up over the past two or three years.
“We will certainly work as a government to make sure that the other member states continue to understand the unique concerns that we have because of our history and geography and the fact that our economy is so intertwined with that of Great Britain. But we will also understand that other countries in the European Union, too, have unique interests.”
Barnier said he would present a draft negotiating mandate to the EU member states next Monday. “Brexit is not going to go away,” he said. “We have some important work ahead of us.
"The protocol of Ireland/Northern Ireland now needs to be implemented in all its dimensions – we will watch over its implementation very closely.
“We also need to begin negotiations on our future relationship – an ambitious relationship with the UK. It’s time for round two and time will be very short. We will maintain the EU unity, and we want to find an agreement that works in the interest of the whole EU. I’m saddened as well that the UK is leaving but also optimistic about the future. I do believe it is possible for us to build a very close partnership – political, economic and on security too and I’m committed to doing that.”
Barnier then moved on to Belfast for a meeting with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and the DUP’s Diane Dodds.
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