Irish border will see checks after no-deal Brexit, EU warns

One of the key objectives of the EU-UK divorce negotiations had been to avoid any friction on the border and preserve the delicate calm between the island's communities - Catholic and Protestant, unionist and nationalist - rooted in the 1998 peace deal, the Good Friday agreement.

British prime minister Boris Johnson has rejected the backstop, which requires the UK to remain in the EU's customs union and parts of the single market to ensure an open border, until a future trade deal solved the issue.

The backstop was also the reason why the British parliament rejected the withdrawal agreement three times.

On Wednesday, the commission reiterated that "the backstop provided for by the withdrawal agreement is the only solution identified that safeguards the Good Friday Agreement, ensures compliance with international law obligations and preserves the integrity of the internal market".

The EU said the UK should bring concrete alternative proposals, which British negotiators have so far failed to do, EU officials have said repeatedly.

"The UK has not submitted any structured, written, detailed alternatives, and probably it won't," another EU official said.

"The commission and Ireland continue working together, in the context of the unique situation on the island of Ireland and their twin objectives of protecting the integrity of the internal market while avoiding a hard border, to identify arrangements both for contingency solutions for the immediate aftermath of a withdrawal without an agreement and for a more stable solution for the period thereafter," it said.

"There is no doubt, only the backstop was suitable to preserve the all-island economy and the situation as we know it as today," an EU official added.

While the EU has been muted on ongoing talks with Ireland on how to police the border in case of a no-deal, the legal burden will lie with Dublin.

"EU law will require that all goods entering Ireland from the United Kingdom be subject to the relevant checks and controls to protect the safety and health of EU citizens, preserve the integrity of the internal market and enforce compliance with fiscal obligations (duties, indirect taxes)," the commission said.

Emergency €780m

The EU commission on Wednesday also rolled out several preparedness measures to help mitigate the effects of the UK possibly leaving on 31 October without any divorce deal.

Parts of the solidarity fund, usually used for natural disasters, and the globalisation fund, designed to offset the negative effects of unforeseen economic disruptions, such as laying off large numbers of workers, will be made available for the remaining 27 member states.

The EU will make up to €780m yearly in emergency funds available for member states that have taken sufficient contingency measures, but still suffered from unforeseen effects of the Brexit fallout.

The commission's assessment for funding would be made on a "case-by-case" basis, officials said.

This, however, will no longer will be available to Northern Ireland in case of a no-deal Brexit - but funding for projects related to the peace process will continue.

London conundrum

The EU's extra preparations measures come as the UK parliament prepares to vote for a bill by cross-party MPs to stop the no-deal Brexit, and force Johnson to ask for a further extension of the Brexit deadline from the EU.

Meanwhile, Johnson is planning to call for snap elections for 15 October if he loses tonight's vote, before a crucial EU summit begins on 17 October.

"There may be many twists and turns in political developments in London right now, but our position is stable: we are willing to work constructively with Boris Johnson and to look at any concrete proposals he may have, as long as they are compatible with the withdrawal agreement," a commission spokeswoman said.