Ulster Unionist Alderman Arnold Hatch has met with EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and expressed the need for a successful resolution to the border issue after Brexit.

Mr. Hatch, a member of the EU Committee of the Regions, was speaking at a plenary session on Wednesday, which was attended by European Commission Chief Brexit Negotiator, Michel Barnier and the European Parliament representative for negotiations with the UK, Guy Verhofstadt, amongst other senior figures in the European Union.

Alderman Hatch said:

“During yesterday’s plenary session I outlined the key priorities for UK local Government for Brexit negotiations, these include reciprocal rights for UK and EU citizens to travel, work, and study across Europe and the need for our farmers to be able to export freely.

“We also want to ensure UK local authorities can continue to benefit from the strong cooperation and I welcome calls to have continued access to Erasmus, Interreg, Peace, Horizon 2020 and other EU programmes, which Northern Ireland citizens and communities have benefited from hugely.

“I also made clear that land and maritime borders should remain places where goods, services, and people can flow freely with a minimum of bureaucracy. Not least in the unique case of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where an appropriate solution must be found.

“I hope those involved in negotiations who were present, in particular Michel Barnier, seriously consider the issues which I expressed.

“For the future prosperity of the United Kingdom, and particularly for Northern Ireland, it is vital that Brexit negotiations bring a successful outcome.”

ENDS