Brexit
#Brexit: Barnier tells Ireland he will work to avoid hard border
The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured) sought to reassure Ireland on Thursday (11 May) that their interests are shared in the upcoming divorce talks and that he will work with Dublin to avoid a hard border returning to the island, writes Padraic Halpin.
With an economy that has close trading links with Britain, and the only land border with the UK, Ireland is widely considered the country with the most to lose when its bigger neighbor quits the European Union.
"I am fully aware that some member states will be more affected than others," Barnier said in an address to both houses of the Irish parliament, an honor usually only reserved for visiting heads of state.
"I want to reassure the Irish people: in this negotiation Ireland's interest will be the Union's interest... Brexit changes the external borders of the EU. I will work with you to avoid a hard border."
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