EU chief tells UK it’s ‘high time we get Brexit done’ over Northern Ireland Protocol

Politics

European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said it was “high time we got Brexit done” as he fired the latest salvo against Boris Johnson’s government over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Mr Sefcovic told an audience in London that UK legislation designed to tear up parts of the protocol, which governs Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements, simply “would not work”.

He also warned that the “shadow being cast” by the row would make Brussels more vigilant about continuing to allow British businesses access to financial services, data and certain food markets.

Politics Hub: Inquiry into whether PM misled parliament offers anonymity to partygate witnesses

Ending so-called “mutual recognition” of regulations in those sectors could become a possibility as a result of the UK changing its standards, said Mr Sefcovic, adding that Brussels “will be watching development closely”.

The protocol was devised in order to prevent the return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

But a consequence is that goods exported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain are subject to customs checks, outraging unionists who are refusing to join power sharing until this changes.

More on Brexit

Britain has rejected proposals by the EU to resolve the impasse.

Brussels says these would reduce checks on certain goods by 80%, cut customs paperwork in half and allow the movement of certain goods that would otherwise be restricted such as sausages.

Mr Sefcovic said Brexit had increased red tape and hurt businesses on both sides of the Channel but that the EU now wanted to move on from it “to a truly strategic EU-UK partnership”.

He accused Britain of adopting a “my way or the highway” approach.

“We indeed find ourselves in a difficult situation, which will most certainly not simply disappear,” he added.

“You may not hear this often from a European Commissioner, but it is high time we got Brexit done.”

Mr Sefcovic’s comments echoed Boris Johnson’s 2019 election pledge.

They came during a speech at the London HQ of financial news and data provider Bloomberg, where in 2013 David Cameron had announced his intention to hold a referendum on EU membership.

Mr Sefcovic said the EU “has its limits” in what it can offer and must protect the integrity of the single market. It was unrealistic and unfair, he said, for the UK to expect “that all barriers can be lifted when goods move to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK”.

“Post-Brexit, the pre-Brexit reality is no longer an option,” Mr Sefcovic added.

He said for the UK to “unilaterally change the game and decide what enters the EU’s single market” amounted to “a clear violation of international law”.

Mr Sefcovic said Britain’s plan to override the protocol would “lead to constant uncertainty”.

“Ministers in London would have the freedom to change the rules on a whim.

“A dual regulatory regime – where businesses opt for EU or UK regulations – would bury them under a mountain of bureaucracy.”

Mr Sefcovic insisted that, with stability and legal certainty about the protocol arrangements, Northern Ireland could be enjoying “jam on both sides of the bread” through its unique position, making it a magnet for investment.

The speech comes days after the prime minister’s plan to override the protocol cleared its first Commons hurdle despite fierce criticism led by former prime minister Theresa May.

Earlier this month, Mr Sefcovic responded to the publication of the bill by restarting legal action against the UK for allegedly breaching the EU withdrawal treaty as well as launching two new legal infringement actions.

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

“His greatest fears”: Trump melts down on Truth Social as $454 million fraud deadline arrives
Patriots projected to trade third pick in latest mock draft
Jesse Watters reacts to the alleged sex trafficking raid on Diddy’s homes
Opinion | Why Abortion Is Back at the Supreme Court
Summer of Boycott: Thousands of Oakland A’s fans expected to protest season opener

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *