Brexit negotiations: Backstop - what is it, when does it happen, why is it so damn complicated?

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

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What is the starting position?

If it remains at Brexit, new EU external borders will also be created in the future - and one of them would run directly through the Irish island. Northern Ireland left the European Union as part of the United Kingdom. Ireland, as an independent state, is not.

EU external borders are usually well secured. Goods and persons are checked there. But turnpikes would be particularly explosive in this region. Both London and Brussels want to avoid such a scenario. Too great is the concern that a hard limit could lead to riots again.

There was a civil war in Northern Ireland between Catholics fighting for reunification with Ireland and pro-British Protestants. Thousands of people died. By the end of the 1990s, the border on the island was well secured - with watchtowers and heavily armed soldiers. Today, the dividing line is barely visible. And that should remain so, according to the will of all sides.

What is the backstop?

London and Brussels have agreed on a transitional phase after the official Brexit meeting on March 29 this year - initially, by the end of 2020, much will remain as it was. For the time being, Britain will continue to be part of the EU customs union and the European single market. During this time, the British government wants to agree with the EU on a free trade agreement, with common rules and standards - and thus permanently abolish border controls.

But what if all of this fails in time? In this case, the backstop should come into play - an emergency mechanism that excludes a hard border on the Irish island, recorded in the exit agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May so far unsuccessfully wants to enforce in the home. The idea is that the UK as a whole will continue to be part of the EU Customs Union - until both sides have agreed on a permanent solution.

Unrestricted trading on the Irish island would thus be guaranteed. The only thing that needs to be checked is whether imported goods comply with the quality requirements of the EU's internal market. But the backstop also provides that Northern Ireland operates according to internal market rules. The necessary controls would therefore not take place at the inner-Irish border, but between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

What is the problem with the British?

The backstop is unlimited in duration - and can not be terminated unilaterally . Above all, the Brexit hardliners fear that Britain could remain bound to the EU for a long time. But that would also mean that the European opponents can not live up to some of their key promises . As part of the Customs Union, for example, Britain is not allowed to conclude free trade agreements with other countries on its own. In addition, London must continue to comply with EU law.

In addition: In view of the backstuff, some are worried about the unity of Great Britain. Especially for the national conservative DUP, Mays alliance partner from Belfast, a special regulation for Northern Ireland is actually taboo.

What does London want?

Most recently, MPs in the British House of Commons passed a backstop request from the Tories. In it, they call on the government to renegotiate the settlement with Brussels. Only if the backstop is replaced by "alternative measures", one would agree to May's EU deal.

What that means exactly is so far unclear. Over the past few months there has been talk of technical solutions that should replace physical controls. Customs declarations should be made online, for example, and the border monitored with sensors. However, many experts believe that this is hardly feasible in practice.

The Prime Minister supported the backstop application. She promised to unite her quarreling faction, at least for the moment. She also offers Parliament's request the opportunity to once again travel to Brussels with a clear negotiating position.

How are Mays chances?

May has already acknowledged in Parliament that its prospects for renegotiation with the EU are not particularly rosy. In Brussels, there is little desire, said the head of government, to untangle the laboriously negotiated agreement once again.

In fact, by the end of 2017, London and Brussels had already agreed in broad terms on the backstop solution. Since then, the UK compromise has come under fire, but there is still no real alternative.

Much depends now on whether Brussels still moves - perhaps for fear of an unregulated Brexit, which should also have negative consequences for the EU. It would probably be enough for the British MEPs to have Brussels set a binding end date for the backstop.

So far, however, the representatives of the European Union remain stubborn. And they have every reason to be: a situation in which Britain does not have to comply with EU rules, but goods flow unchecked into the European Union, would be a disadvantage especially for Brussels. Because after a tough Brexit standards in the EU would probably be higher.