UK Ministers Review Secret Plan to Keep Irish Border Open: The Sun via Reuters

Britain’s department responsible for navigating the exit from the European Union is reportedly working on a secret high-tech plan to keep the Irish border open, with preparations for a trial set for March, according to the Sun newspaper.

Officials have been developing this plan, which involves a tracking system designed by Japan’s Fujitsu that monitors vehicles on specific routes, for the past ten months. This information comes from leaked documents mentioned in the report.

Brexit Minister Steve Barclay is currently reviewing the proposal, which has been revisited in light of recent parliamentary votes aimed at replacing the existing Irish backstop with possible “alternative arrangements.”

The objective of this initiative is to eliminate the need for physical checks on the border. It would use a tracking system that monitors vehicles crossing from Northern Ireland to Ireland through technologies such as number plate recognition cameras and GPS.

Currently, there are no controls at the Irish border, allowing for seamless movement between the United Kingdom and Ireland, both of which are EU members. However, with Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU on March 29, preparations are becoming increasingly urgent.

Both Britain, Ireland, and the EU are keen to prevent the reintroduction of physical checks along the border, which were abolished with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.