EU Warns UK Against Trying to Suspend NI Protocol
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A Northern Ireland Protocol row between the UK and the EU sparks threats of "consequences" from the latter.
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A British Union flag, right, flies with other European Union (EU) member state flags outside the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 (Credit: Bloomberg)
The European Commission warned Friday the United Kingdom of "serious consequences" if the latter acts upon its threat to suspend part of the Brexit treaty dealing with Northern Ireland.
Brussels and London are holding talks in an attempt to reach common ground on problems caused by trading arrangements for Northern Ireland as part of the UK's departure from the European Union.
The EU has offered to ease customs checks on goods transiting through the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland, a point that has caused an uproar from pro-British parties in Belfast.
London says it could suspend the protocol unless Brussels agrees to majority amend the accord.
"This was a big move by us, but until today we have seen no move at all from the UK side," said European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic following around of talks with Britain's Brexit minister David Frost.
"I find this disappointing, and once again, I urge the UK government to engage with us sincerely," Sefcovic added.
The agreement gives Northern Ireland a special trade status, which ensures that it possesses an open border, and it constitutes a key pillar of Belfast's peace process since the 1998 Good Friday accord that ended years of violence.
VP Sefcovic berated threats from the UK to trigger Article 16 of the agreement that could lead to its suspension.
"There'll be no doubt that triggering Article 16 to seek the renegotiation of the protocol would have serious consequences -- serious for Northern Ireland... and serious also for the EU-UK relations in general," the official asserted.
The current deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed has aroused controversy since the beginning due to it meaning that the Irish Sea would have a new customs border for goods entering the island from the rest of the UK, despite Northern Ireland still being part of the same country.
According to the vice president, the two sides will hold talks again in London next Friday.
The row over Northern Ireland comes at a time when London and Paris are bumping heads over post-Brexit fishing rights.
