The Guardian has said full regulatory alignment with the Republic of Ireland is the only viable option to prevent a "hard border" with the Republic of Ireland . Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has effectively agreed to allowing the region to remain in the single market and customs union, The EU has reported. Scottish First Minister Michel Barnier has called for a similar arrangement for Scotland . The DUP MEP Diane Dodds said any suggestion of “unavoidable” customs controls on the Irish border was out of step with the three approaches set out in the joint report published in December. Should the UK leave the customs union , border checks would be "unavoidable", according to the EU 's lead negotiator Michel Barnier .
The Guardian has said full regulatory alignment with the Republic of Ireland is the only viable option to prevent a "hard border" with the Republic of Ireland . Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has effectively agreed to allowing the region to remain in the single market and customs union, The EU has reported. Scottish First Minister Michel Barnier has called for a similar arrangement for Scotland . Should the UK leave the customs union , border checks would be "unavoidable", according to the EU 's lead negotiator Michel Barnier .