European Commission warns London it will respond “with all measures at its disposal”
The UK government is set to table a bill in the coming weeks to unilaterally change the withdrawal agreement from the European Union if Buselas does not respond positively to his proposals to negotiate changes to the Protocol on Ireland. Foreign Minister Liz Truss justifies this by the failure of negotiations with the Commission for a year and a half.
The UK changes would replace the current system of controlling goods coming from Great Britain with two border channels, green and red, which would facilitate free passage for those staying in Northern Ireland or require customs inspections and documentation for those who would cross the border. region to enter the south of Ireland.
It would remove the obligation to respect community rules in the local production of goods and introduce a dual system, with entrepreneurs opting for community or UK rules. It would remove restrictions to vary European VAT in the region and would coordinate in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to control subsidies to industry and remove it from the protocol.
The UK Government also requires that any disputes relating to the regime governing Northern Ireland’s simultaneous membership of the common and UK markets be decided by an arbitration panel, as in the case of the Treaty, and not by the Court of Justice of the EU. as stated in a text whose signature was celebrated two years ago by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Commission’s negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, responded to the London announcement by regretting that his proposals to reduce problems in the implementation of the rules had not been examined, warning that if the UK “moves towards a bill to not to apply the constituent elements of the protocol, “…the EU will have to respond with all the measures at its disposal”.
Truss argued in Parliament that during his six-month negotiation with Šefčovič and the twelve of his predecessor, David Frost, the EU never agreed to an amendment to the Protocol, which was approved by the European and British parliaments. The minister’s statement reproduces a proposal from Frost last year, which has already been interpreted as a challenge to a trade war.
The British government’s tone has changed since Frost’s departure, but the arguments have only changed as the collapse of the autonomous institutions now adds to the economic problems. The largest trade union party, DUP, the only one with significant support to favor “Brexit” in the province, will not return to shared autonomy without eliminating at least five articles of the Protocol, according to its election manifesto.
Or so it seems. The leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, said the day before, after meeting with Johnson, that he would accept no promises before returning to the Belfast Assembly, but the entry into force of the law, which could be delayed for a year. In his salute to Truss’ statement Tuesday, Donaldson said he hopes “to see progress on the bill in days and weeks, not months.” The lack of precision in Donaldson’s words is common in this crisis.
Conservative co-religionists, such as Simon Hoare, chairman of the parliamentary committee on Northern Ireland affairs, say it is “extraordinary” that his government is going to violate international law. Johnson and Truss invoke Article 1 of the protocol. It is listed as a law “without prejudice to the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998”. They are now arguing for the need to act to save the institutions of the peace agreement
Source: La Verdad
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
