Northern Ireland border questions break Brexit discussions at crucial moment

SURROUNDED by serene country and Game of Thrones locations, one border is screwing everything up as Europe enters crisis mode.

The Irish border is being called a ‘Gordian knot’ — a seemingly unsolvable problem. Picture: Paul Faith/AFP

NESTLED among the rolling green pastures of Ireland lies a border which weaves 500km through the picturesque country like an emerald snake.

North of the line, tourists have begun to flock in their millions to catch a glimpse of the real Westeros — the fictional kingdom in which HBO’s insanely popular series, Game of Thrones, is set.

However, not far from the castles and forests of the fantasy epic, the line that divides Northern Ireland — which is part of the United Kingdom — and its southern neighbour, the Republic of Ireland, is creating a storyline not too dissimilar from an episode of the dramatic TV series.

Thankfully, there have been no beheadings or dragons involved so far — but the questions the highly politicised border poses are tearing Europe apart.

That’s because, once Brexit happens, nobody knows how the border will work, given the Republic will remain inside the European Union and its northern neighbour will remain inside a new “sovereign” Britain.

Will you need a passport check as you cross over?

Will goods need to be checked?

Given there is currently a mass migration crisis stemming from Africa and the Middle East, and immigration was a major factor in the Brexit debate, will there eventually need to be some sort of physical border?

How will all this affect relations between Irish republicans and unionists?

Tourists have been flocking to Northern Ireland to catch glimpse of the real Westeros. Picture: Maison Real Estate

But this is where the real power struggle is happening — at the Irish border. Picture: Paul Faith/AFP

These are all questions that nobody knows the answer to and it has brought the UK’s intense discussions with the Europe to a sudden, grinding halt at the worst possible moment.

Because of the breakdown in talks, European Council President Donald Tusk has now warned of an increased risk that Britain would crash out of the bloc without a trade deal — an outcome which is expected to create economic chaos within the UK.

The border problem is being called a “Gordian knot”. Which sounds like something from Game of Thrones, but its simply means it is a seemingly unsolvable problem that could only be resolved with bold actions. According to legend, the mythical Gordian knot could only be broken by Ancient Greek warrior king Alexander the Great, who used his sword to slash through it when all else failed.

Overnight, Mr Tusk let rip at UK Prime Minister Theresa May telling her to channel her inner Alexander the Great.

He implored her to come up with “a new method of thinking” on the Irish border issue that has stumped negotiators for over a year.

“The problem is clear it is still the Irish question and the problem of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. And the so-called backstop. It looks like a new version of the Gordian knot,” he said.

Donald Tusk says the Irish border problem can be solved. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The European Union wants the UK to agree an indefinite “backstop” or fallback position that would ensure an open border between Northern Ireland.

However, with the leaders of EU countries meeting in just a few hours, he told the embattled British leader to think like a free spirit and “present something creative enough to solve this impasse”.

The summit was being touted as a defining moment in Britain’s two-year departure from the bloc. It was supposed to be a celebration of a deal between the bickering parties which would seal a prosperous future for everybody involved.

However, Mr Tusk said there were “no grounds for optimism” about Britain and the EU reaching a deal.

Not only that, members of Ms May’s own party and the Conservatives’ parliamentary allies oppose the PM’s current proposals for the future EU-UK border in Ireland, putting her in a political straitjacket which restricts the “creative” ideas Mr Tusk seeks.

“We sometimes feel the British are negotiating with the British,” Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said, illustrating the EU’s frustration.

The EU said the process was expected to take a few more weeks, pushing the timeline for a deal into November at the earliest.

Theresa May has been put in a ‘political straitjacket’. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Negotiators are working towards coming to an agreement “in the coming weeks” to ensure Britain leaves the EU as scheduled on March 29 in an orderly fashion, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said.

“We are not there yet,” he said. “We will use that time — calmly, with serious intent — to find the overall deal.”

Speaking on the eve of the summit in Luxembourg, Mr Barnier said many terms of the divorce have been agreed upon already, such as how much money Britain owes the EU.

EU negotiators say the chances of Britain leaving without a deal were higher than ever before. In London, Ms May urged her divided Cabinet to back her amid growing talk that several members were ready to resign in protest of her government’s proposals to the EU.

During a three-hour Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Ms May said the UK Government must “stand together and stand firm”.

The EU is waiting for new proposals from Britain. But Ms May’s room for compromise is restricted by divisions within the Conservative Party, and by her reliance on Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, which opposes any compromise on the border.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said after several ministers met privately over pizza on Monday night that “no one is planning on resigning”.

“We are all doing our jobs and we are trying to get the best deal for this country, and that’s it,” she said.

— with wires