The still unsolved Brexit and the Irish Border

Thu, October 17, 2019 / 12:31 pm

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A woman jogs in front of a poster of the Playhouse Theater in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. JP/Okky Ardya
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A bright blue bus emblazoned with a message against Brexit at Queen’s University Belfast. JP/Okky Ardya
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Two men read a newspaper at Belfast city center. JP/Okky Ardya
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A vandalized road sign in Northern Ireland with the “London” in “Londonderry” covered with black paint. JP/Okky Ardya
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Posters on the wall at a public exhibition about the civil rights campaign and conflict in Northern Ireland. JP/Okky Ardya
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A woman walks down the street in Derry/Londonderry. JP/Okky Ardya
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Two women walk past the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on Buncrana Road in the western suburbs of Derry/Londonderry. JP/Okky Ardya
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A man sells goods near the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on Buncrana Road in the western suburbs of Derry/Londonderry. JP/Okky Ardya
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A group of musicians plays traditional Irish Music at Kelly’s Cellars, one of Belfast’s oldest traditional Irish pubs. JP/Okky Ardya
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A sign reads “Hard Border, Soft Border, No Border” in the Bogside, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. JP/Okky Ardya
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The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. JP/Okky Ardya

Okky Ardya

Brexit has become one of the biggest global issues. Not only because the United Kingdom will be the first member state to withdraw from the European Union, but also because of the impact of Brexit economically and politically.

Although UK and EU have agreed on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, which covers a few key points, the issue of the “backstop” for the Irish border is most likely to be the most complicated issue.

The Irish backstop is an insurance policy to ensure the border between Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (EU) remains completely open to trade, people and services, with the aim of preventing a hard border after Brexit.

Northern Ireland, with its long and painful history of complex conflict, on the other hand, is still a part of the UK together with England, Wales and Scotland.

It seems the new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to renew the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and renegotiate the deal without including the Irish backstop. If this happens, it will directly affect Northern Ireland. Like it or not, it raises the issue of Irish unification.

Originally, Britain was due to leave the EU this year on March 29, however Brexit has been postponed until Oct. 31. As the deadline gets closer, some critical issues remain unsolved. [kes]