Originally Posted by
Slant
The EU didn't decide to do this. It never for a second felt like there was common ground. From second one Northern Ireland has been a problem. But certain people chose to ignore it. So great, the UK did the 80% that were easy. Now they should do the 20% that are hard. Oh, they can't? Well thanks for putting so much effort into the easy 80%. The EU is now the mean guy, because they kept reminding the UK to find a solution for Nothern Ireland, since everything the EU is suggesting apparently is unaccpeptable. So now you go the EU is "pretending to play ball"? Really? They've told the UK this before the referendum. They've told the UK at the beginning of the negotiations. They have told the UK during the negotiations.
How much telling does the UK need to realise that yes, there is a problem. And no, it's not the EU's job to figure out problems for the UK that are largely an internal issue to the UK and most of all, created by the UK itself.
The EU's job is not to babysit its member states.
I have no idea why I have to keep repeating this every page or so. All of these considerations should have been done by a sovereign nation that wants to be treated like a serious player in global politics. That the UK is now surprised at the development is... shameful. The EU has offered what I think is a shitty compromise, but probably the best that prevents a hard border on NI and doesn't quite outright break the Union of the UK. Have a backstop, implement custom controls in the Irish Sea... yes, it'll feel weird, but...
Get this, the UK's counter proposal? Put the entire UK in the customs union for goods. Are they on drugs or something? Do they think they can somehow use the Irish situation to circumvent the EU's mantra "the single market consists of all four freedoms, not just one" with that douchebag trickery? Seriously?
And you say the EU is "pretending to play ball". Are you mad?
We'll see how that pans out, I don't see that "whole UK solution" getting any serious attention. Even if the EU agrees, May would never get that through the commons, even a continental fascist like I can see that without binoculars. :P
(Because I can't assume a mature level of understanding on this forum from some people, the last bit about me being a fascist was sarcasm. Obviously.)