When it comes to the Brexit deal negotiated between the UK and the European Union, one of the most controversial and complex issues has been the so-called « backstop ». But what exactly is the backstop, and is it included in the withdrawal agreement?
The backstop is a safety net designed to ensure that there is no hard border between Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (which is an EU member state) after Brexit. This is important because a hard border could undermine the peace process in Northern Ireland, which relies on the absence of a physical barrier between the two parts of the island.
The backstop would come into effect if the UK and the EU were unable to agree on a future trade deal before the end of the transition period (which is currently set to end on 31 December 2020). It would involve the UK remaining in a customs union with the EU until a solution could be found to avoid a hard border.
However, many Brexit supporters in the UK see the backstop as a way of keeping the UK tied to the EU indefinitely, and have been calling for it to be removed from the withdrawal agreement. The issue has been a major stumbling block in the attempts to get the deal passed by the UK parliament.
So, does the withdrawal agreement include the backstop? The short answer is yes. The backstop is included in the legally binding withdrawal agreement that was negotiated between the UK and the EU in November 2018. Despite efforts to find alternative solutions, the EU has consistently insisted that the backstop is necessary to protect the integrity of the single market and the peace process in Northern Ireland.
However, in response to concerns raised by MPs in the UK, the EU has issued a clarification stating that the backstop is intended to be a temporary measure and that both sides are committed to finding a long-term solution that will avoid the need for it to come into effect at all.
In summary, the backstop is an important element of the Brexit deal and is included in the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU. While there are concerns about its implications for the UK`s future relationship with the EU, both sides have committed to finding a way to avoid it coming into effect if possible.