Archive image: Larissa Schwedes/dpa
The European Union is taking legal action against plans by the British government to unilaterally change the Brexit agreements. The EU Commission announced on Wednesday that it would resume the infringement proceedings initiated against the British government last year. It was initiated after Britain unilaterally extended a transitional period for trade with Ireland.
“Let’s call a spade a spade: It’s illegal,” said EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic at a press conference in Brussels. The EU is ready for talks with London, but solutions must be found within the Northern Ireland Protocol. The British government described the move by the EU as disappointing. “Priority for the UK remains a negotiated solution, but proposals made by the EU today are the same proposals we have been discussing for months.”
The British government introduced legislation in Parliament on Monday to amend existing Brexit agreements with Northern Ireland: Customs controls on some goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom are to be abolished. The controls agreed to protect the EU internal market – Northern Ireland is the only part of Great Britain with a land border to the EU – were approved by Prime Minister Boris Johnson less than two years ago. The rules were intended to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The infringement procedure was put on hold in September 2021 while both sides tried to find a common solution. In addition, the EU Commission wants to take further measures against the United Kingdom because, in its view, the country failed to carry out the goods controls required under EU regulations and to provide the data on trade required by the protocol.
dpa
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