British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused the European Union of seeking to strike at the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom, by imposing a "food blockade between Britain and Northern Ireland".
Johnson wrote in the Saturday issue of the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the European Union’s position justifies his government’s submission of new legislation to reformulate the Brexit agreement, a bill that raises grave concern even among his conservative camp MPs.
Talks between London and the Europeans reached a dead end regarding the future trade relationship between the two sides, amid difficulties facing each of them in putting an end to a 50-year trade integration, before the British decided to secede from the European Union in 2016.
Johnson said the European Union was bent on "an extreme interpretation" of the rules on Northern Ireland.
"We are told that the European Union will not only impose customs duties on goods that are transported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, but may also stop the transport of food products from Britain to Northern Ireland."
The British Prime Minister added, "I have to admit that we never seriously thought that the European Union would use an agreement negotiated in good faith to impose a blockade on and isolate part of the United Kingdom, or that it would threaten to destroy the UK economy and territorial integrity."
Johnson called on the British to unite, and addressed them, saying, "Let us make the European Union withdraw its threats, finish this bill, support our negotiators and protect our country."
Johnson said that the European Union’s position would "endanger peace and stability in Northern Ireland," stressing its continued commitment to finding an agreement with the European Union by the end of the year, describing the new British internal market law as a "legal safety net."
European packages
The European Union threatens to take legal measures against Britain unless it withdraws the amendments it unilaterally introduced by the end of September.
On Saturday, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said, "In my assessment, an unregulated situation (Brexit without an agreement) will have serious repercussions on the British economy."
He added after a meeting of European Union finance ministers, "Europe will be able to deal with the matter, and these repercussions will not be dangerous given the preparations that we have already made."
On Friday, leaders in the European Parliament threatened to torpedo any trade treaty if London breaks its promises.
The dispute over foodstuffs centers on the European Union’s refusal to grant Britain the status of a "third country", which makes it a country that meets the basic requirements for exporting its foodstuffs to Europe.
European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni said the union would be prepared in the event of an "exceptional negative outcome".