In response to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s letter, European Council President Donald Tusk reiterated that the backstop is an “insurance” to avoid a hard Irish border” until an alternative is found. . And, “those against the backstop and not proposing realistic alternatives in fact support reestablishing a border. Even if they do not admit it.”
European Commission spokesperson Natasha Bertaud also said Johnson’s letter “does not provide a legal operational solution to prevent the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland”. She reiterated that the backstop is the “only means identified so far by both parties to honor this commitment” of avoiding hard Irish border.
