The chairman of the EESC’s Brexit Group, Stefano Mallia, has urged Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator on Brexit, to make “one last effort” for a successful Brexit which would see the UK leave the EU in an orderly fashion.

The Maltese representative said a hard Brexit would be negative for everyone, not just the UK but also the EU.

“Unfortunately, every day that passes brings us closer to this unwanted scenario,” he said.

Mr Mallia stressed during the EESC plenary that as from the first day following Brexit day, the UK would become a ‘third country’. 

We don't want to use the backstop. It's comparable to your house insurance – you pay it but you wish not to have to use it

“We have 40 years of relations and we cannot just throw away such a treasure. With this in mind the EESC is calling on you and the Commission to set up a formal joint consultative commission that will provide for a structured social dialogue between the civil society partners of the EU and this of the UK”.

Mr Barnier stressed that there was no hostility or punishment regarding the negotiations, but that his responsibility was to solve the problems for the EU.

"We don't want to use the backstop. It's comparable to your house insurance – you pay it but you wish not to have to use it," he said.

Mr Barnier stressed that the backstop was not about trade and goods but about people who needed security. He added that the border in Ireland was not something that only affected the UK and Northern Ireland, as it was the border of the 27 countries in the single market.

“Goods coming from Northern Ireland go to all European countries. This therefore makes it a European question,” Mr Barnier said.