Germany’s government has made a rare public statement, rebuking the British government for its plans to renege on the Brexit deal agreed with the European Union two years ago.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Irish Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney wrote to the Observer today defending the Northern Ireland Protocol, saying it supports the Good Friday peace deal and maintains the “high standards” of the EU’s single market.
“Unfortunately, the UK government has chosen not to engage in good faith with these proposals,” Baerbock and Coveney wrote. “Instead of the path of partnership and dialogue, he chose unilateralism.”
“There is no legal or political justification for unilaterally violating an international agreement that was concluded just two years ago,” the pair continued. “Introducing legislation will not resolve the challenges surrounding the protocol. Instead, it will create a new set of uncertainties and make it more difficult to find sustainable solutions.”
Baerbock and Coveney called on the UK government to “show the same realism and willingness to compromise that the EU has shown”, particularly in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“In these difficult times, as Russia leads a ruthless war in Ukraine, tearing apart our European peace order, the EU and the UK must stand together as partners with shared values and a commitment to preserve and strengthen the international order that is based on rules,” the two foreign ministers wrote.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants Parliament to approve his plan to override the Brexit deal by the end of 2022, but it could take up to a year to become law if the House of Lords stalls. “We could do it very quickly, with the will of Parliament,” Johnson told a summit of G7 leaders last week.
Legal dispute
The bill, which would give Britain the ability to unilaterally change Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangement, risks a trade war with the EU and has strained relations with the UK’s biggest trading partner. The EU relaunched legal action against the UK last month.
Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, told Bloomberg News last week that the EU cannot accept Britain’s attempts to “unilaterally and illegally” dismantle the Brexit deal arrangements that keep Northern Ireland in single market of the bloc, while creating a customs border with the rest of the UK.
In an interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said her country had tried unsuccessfully to renegotiate the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU, saying Brussels had refused to amend the text. He added that what the UK did was legal and in line with the doctrine of international law that allows a signatory to make changes to a treaty if it feels it jeopardizes its stability.
Johnson’s deal passed second reading in the House of Commons last week but exposed fissures in the prime minister’s party as his predecessor Theresa May and other key Tory members voted against the plan.
“I can’t support that,” May said. “It will reduce the prestige of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world.”
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
