期刊名称：Estudios Irlandeses : Journal of Irish Studies
电子版ISSN：1699-311X
出版年度：2018
期号：13
页码：176-198
DOI：10.24162/EI2018-8236
出版社：Asociación Española de Estudios Irlandeses
摘要：Border issues have been the source of deep anxiety and distress in Ireland in the past few months. The year opened with British Prime Minister Theresa May confirming the disconnection of Britain from the European Union after Brexit, which inevitably involved the negotiation of the terms upon which the Northern Irish border had been established. While Ireland has been involved in an intense inward evaluation of what an undesirable hard border would entail, it has also strategically expanded outwards, looking for the support of other European countries with which to strengthen ties, including Spain. In fact, the year started with a meeting on January 12th between former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Madrid, with the intention of minimizing the potential side-effects of Brexit, enhancing business networking, preserving mutual interests and fostering the indivisibility of the European project. At present, Brexit negotiations have moved forward to another stage, which involve guaranteeing the protection of the peace process and of the economy of the whole island, and the refusal to erect a hard border.
