LOC14:43
11:43 GMT
BRUSSELS, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- The European Union (EU) Tuesday welcomed the UK government's engagement and continued commitment to an orderly withdrawal from the EU.
"We firmly believe that this is in the best interest of both the EU and the UK," a spokesperson for the European Commission, Natasha Bertaud, told a news conference.
Today's EU reaction came following a letter by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to European Council President Donald Tusk on Monday on the Irish border plan after Brexit.
Johsnon's letter was also copied to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, noted the spokesperson.
"However, we also note that the letter does not provide legal operational solution to prevent the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland. It does not set out what alternative arrangements could be," said Bertaud.
In his letter the UK prime minister asked Brussels to consider a solution for the Irish border that doesn't involve the Brexit backstop.
He said Brussels and London should discuss alternative arrangements for policing the border, and promised to make other "commitments" in case the measures are not ready by the final departure date of UK from the EU on 31 October.
He also called the backstop "anti-democratic and inconsistent with the sovereignty of the UK as a state".
On his part, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, in his tweeter message today said "the backstop is an insurance to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland unless and until an alternative is found."
"Those against the backstop and not proposing realistic alternatives in fact support reestablishing a border. Even if they do not admit it," he added. (end)
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