Jean-Claude Juncker has said that the EU needs to be realistic about the UK leaving without a trade deal.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, the European commission president said he would be stepping up talks and drafting plans to keep the peace in Northern Ireland.
“With pragmatism comes realism. As the clock to Brexit ticks down, we must prepare for every eventuality, including no deal. This is neither a desired nor a likely outcome. But it is not an impossible one. And we are getting ready just in case,” said Juncker to the Irish parliament on Thursday.
“We will use all the tools at our disposal, which could have a cushioning impact. The new long-term budget for our union from 2021 onwards has an inbuilt flexibility that could allow us to redirect funds if the situation arose.”
“We will also earmark €120 million (£105 million) for a new peace programme which has done so much in breaking down barriers between communities in Northern Ireland and the border counties.”
Brexit talks surrounding the Ireland border have not yet reached a solution. Juncker said that the proposals from the UK that suggested the UK remain in the customs union beyond the transition period until a technological solution is developed did not pass tests set by the commission.
“We have put forward clear proposals, including a backstop option, to safeguard the Good Friday agreement and ensure that there is no hard border. Our backstop is a bespoke and workable solution. It is designed for Northern Ireland and upholds its constitutional status but this tailored solution for Northern Ireland cannot fit the whole United Kingdom,” he said.
“With less than 10 months to Brexit, we need more answers and fewer new questions. We will continue – my friend Michel Barnier, myself and others – to take a pragmatic approach to finding solutions. But I also want to be clear: Ireland will come first.”