The Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the Brexit Process

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the role of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the Brexit negotiations. The present writer starts with the assumption that this is the most complicated issue in the whole Brexit process. The study first makes an attempt to delineate the historical background, with special emphasis on the partition of the island in 1921. The second part is concerned with the proposals of the European Union concerning the border; these basically aim at the realization of the so-called “backstop” solution which presupposes that Northern Ireland should remain in the customs union (and partly also in the single market) while the UK is leaving both of these institutions. The study emphasizes that London rejects this on principle because this would necessarily entail the economic separation of Northern Ireland.