Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth
I don't believe that for one moment. A breach by the UK of the NI agreement (NIA) was an entirely confected argument. Article 50 didn't stop us from leaving the EU - in other words it was notwithstanding the NIA.
Had we walked away from the EU, closing the border with Eire would have ben an act of the EU, who were not a party to the NIA except possibly by association with Eire. This onus is what frightened the hell out of Varadkar and we caved.
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No, it would have been an act of Ireland as a signatory of the Treaty of Lisbon. There seems to be a misunderstanding here of what the European Union is. The EU can only act with the agreement of the member states. The whole being ruled from Brussels only happens with the consent of the member states and every law and regulation needs the agreement of usually both the Parliament and the nation heads of state.
The EU, having competence over things like customs and standards (again, with the agreement of the nation state of Ireland) paid due regard to Irelands position as a signator of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, hence the fudge of the Northern Ireland protocol agreed by all parties