U.K. wants the E.U. to look on it’s post-Brexit deal with fresh eyes as the current rules are harming the business
The United Kingdom (U.K.) Government has demanded the European Union (E.U.) to re-negotiate post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland as the border checks on goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are becoming unsustainable.
The Brexit Minister – David Frost called on the E.U. to look on the U.K.’s proposals with fresh eyes as the current rules are harming the business. He also announced that U.K. would not be triggering Article 16 of the protocol, which would allow it to suspend parts of the Brexit deal, before talks with Brussels.
In a 28-page document, the U.K. Government proposed to remove customs checks on goods where the Great Britain registered businesses declare that their final destination is Northern Ireland. It also asked for removing certificates and checks for food products only ever intended to be consumed in Northern Ireland. Also, it wants E.U. to remove medicines entirely from the scope of the protocol allowing labelled goods conforming to U.K. rules to circulate freely in Northern Ireland alongside E.U.-registered products
However, E.U. has rejected the request of U.K. saying Britain has to respect its international obligations. The E.U. has long insisted that it is up to London to implement what it agreed in their drawn-out Brexit divorce.
Taking it to twitter, the President of European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen tweeted,
PM @BorisJohnson called to present the UK Command paper on the Irish/Northern Irish Protocol.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 22, 2021
The EU will continue to be creative and flexible within the Protocol framework. But we will not renegotiate.
We must jointly ensure stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.
The E.U. is willing to seek creative solutions, within the framework of the Protocol, in the interest of all communities in Northern Ireland. However, it will not agree to a renegotiation of the Protocol. Under the terms agreed in Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to be a part of E.U.’s single market for goods, meaning it complies with standards set by Brussels.
The Northern Ireland Secretary – Brandon Lewis said that while the U.K. had negotiated the protocol “in good faith”, its real-world application by the E.U. had entailed “considerable and continuing burdens.” Rather than an ad hoc grace periods for border checks, Lewis said that U.K. is seeking a “standstill period” for the protocol including legal action by the E.U.
Several U.K. companies are finding it difficult to cope up with the new red-tapism and have either stopped sales to Northern Ireland or are offering products at reduced choice.
In a phone call to his Irish counterpart – Micheal Martin, the Prime Minister of U.K. – Boris Johnson said, that the protocol is causing significant disruption and changes are essential. But the EU, seeking to preserve the integrity of its single market, says Britain has been acting in bad faith, knowing full well what it signed up to.
