Commission: Ireland needs ‘special attention’ on Brexit

Ireland’s case deserves “special attention” in upcoming Brexit talks, the European Commission has said.

Frans Timmermans, the commission’s first vice-president, who is in Dublin today on an official visit, also said any future Brexit deal must keep to the “letter and spirit” of the Good Friday Agreement, including on border issues.

He said the deal should “reflect the need for Ireland and the UK to be able to prolong their agreements” and the EU had a “strategic interest” in ensuring Brexit did not upend the peace process in the North.