Brexit: GB government presents law revising agreements. EU convenes extraordinary session

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09 September 2020The vice-president of the European commission, Maros Sefcovic, in a phone call with the British minister Michael Gove expressed "strong concerns" on the state of negotiations on Brexit, and called an extraordinary session of the EU-GB commission on the implementation of the agreement of divorce, for London to "answer and process".

This was announced by Sefcovic himself, explaining that speaking with Gove he sought "reassurance on full compliance with the withdrawal agreement" by London.

European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and British Government member Michael Gove spoke on the phone about the latest tensions between Brussels and London in the Brexit negotiations.

Sefcovic "expressed concern about the United Kingdom's compliance with the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement".

"I warmly invited everyone to respond to our concerns," added the Slovak politician during a press conference.

"When the British government announces what to do this afternoon, our presidency will react", warned the

Vice-President of the Commission.

Sefcovic also announced that it has called an extraordinary meeting, to be held "as soon as possible", of the EU-UK Joint Commission on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, for London to "respond and elaborate" on the "strong concerns" expressed. from the EU. 

The Tory government has deposited in parliament the announced bill - contested by the EU and the British opposition - which aims to protect the British internal market after Brexit even at the cost of revising some points of the agreement withdrawal already reached with Brussels: in particular on the protocol signed to guarantee the open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The text, which Minister Brandon Lewis himself admitted yesterday represented a violation of international law - albeit "limited" and anchored to alleged precedents - was defended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Wednesday question time.

The draft law, called the Internal market bill and destined to pass now to the scrutiny of the House of Commons and the lords before approval, is an instrument to ensure "the protection of jobs, economic growth and the fluidity of the internal market. "British, including on the passage of goods between Ulster and the rest of the kingdom, claimed Johnson, glossing over the question of compliance with the treaty already signed with the EU on divorce.

A tool that in the interpretation of Downing street aims to clarify some "ambiguities" of the protocol relating to the Irish border where the negotiations between London and Brussels on post-Brexit relations - currently stalled - end by the end of the year with a de facto no deal in matter of trade. 

Johnson further argued that this law does not threaten the provisions of the historic 1998 Good Friday peace agreement on maintaining a barrier-free border between Dublin and Belfast, rather "the opposite".

While he reiterated that his government will carry out Brexit "in compliance with the will of the people" by putting an end to the transition at the end of 2020 despite attempts attributed to the leader of the Labor opposition Keir Starmer to "keep the United Kingdom in the EU".

However, the leader of the Scottish independence activists of the SNP, Ian Blackford, has hurled himself against him, who has evoked judicial appeals against a law "which violates both international law and national laws" and also represents "an attack on the devolution" of Scotland. .

While the criticisms of politicians (including some Tory deputies), diplomats and jurists are mounting, according to which the Internal market bill is a game of chance that risks equating the kingdom with "rogue states" accused of betraying the treaties international. 

"I am very concerned by the announcements of the British government about its intentions to violate the withdrawal agreement" for brexit.

"This would violate international law and undermine trust. Pacta sunt servanda" and are "the foundation for prosperous future relationships."

So the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, on twitter. 

"The Withdrawal Agreement has been reached and ratified by both parties, and must be fully implemented. The violation of international law is not acceptable and does not create the necessary confidence to building our future relationship "after Brexit.

So the president of the European council, Charles Michel, on twitter.