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Brussels is threatening London with legal action against Northern Ireland

The European Commission today threatened the British government with legal action following the presentation of a draft law in London that unilaterally calls into question the customs regime after the Brexit of Northern Ireland.

“We note with great concern the decision taken today by the British government to table a bill that invalidates the basic elements of the protocol. Unilateral action undermines mutual trust,” said Vice President Maros Sefkovic.

“In the first year, the Commission will consider continuing the infringement proceedings against the British government in March 2021,” Sefkovic said.

This process, which could lead to recourse to European justice, was suspended by the Commission in September 2021, “in a spirit of constructive co-operation to enable the search for common solutions,” Sefkovic recalled.

“The UK’s unilateral action is directly directed against this spirit,” the European official said.

Sefkovic also referred to the prospect of new infringement proceedings to “protect the single market from the risks that the breach of the protocol poses to EU companies and to the health and safety of EU citizens”.

Vice President Sefkovic reiterated that “the European Union will not renegotiate the protocol” governing trade between Britain and Northern Ireland. At the same time, however, he called on the British government to “participate (with the Commission) in common solutions”.

“In line with the strong and long-term commitment of the EU to the companies and people of Northern Ireland, we will soon present in more detail our model for flexible implementation of the protocol, based on sustainable solutions under the protocol,” he said.

“This will show that there are solutions to the problems posed by companies and the people of Northern Ireland,” he added.

To prevent the return of a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU protocol, the protocol actually creates a customs border between the British countryside and the island of Great Britain.

This situation disrupts the supply of ground supplies and infuriates the Unionist community, which is committed to staying in the United Kingdom.

For Brussels, these provisions, which apply from 1 January 2021, are necessary to protect the integrity of the European market.

Source: Capital

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