• UK.Boris Johnson passes first vote in Parliament to 'rewrite' Brexit deal

The European Commission this morning opened an infringement procedure against the United Kingdom for the violation of the "good faith" contained in articles 4 and 5 of the Agreement to Exit the EU.

"As you know, we invite our British friends to withdraw the problematic parts of their draft law on the Internal Market before the end of the month. This draft, by its nature, constitutes a violation of the obligations to act in good faith under the Agreement. Exit from the EU. Moreover: if it is adopted as it is now it will be a contradiction with what is contemplated in the specific Protocol on Northern Ireland.

The deadline expired yesterday, they have not withdrawn

and therefore this morning the Commission has decided to send an official notification letter.

It is the first step in an infringement procedure ", President Ursula von der Leyen explained in an appearance this morning, after receiving the unanimous support of the College of Commissioners.

The German team has finalized an official notification letter in which, in addition, it is warned that if the controversial law on the Internal Market that London has approved this week comes into force,

there will be additional measures

, as it represents another flagrant breach of the law international.

"Now they can send their comments over the next month," added Von der Leyen.

"The Commission will work for the implementation of the Exit Agreement.

We respect our commitments

", he has settled.

A few weeks ago, the EU threatened all legal measures after the London announcement to carry out a bill that violates the signed agreements, but without specifying when or how.

They wanted explanations from the British Government, to understand the motivations and, in the end, to decide if it was a negotiating tactic without route or a firm position.

After time in Brussels they see no loopholes to hold on to.

They know that

the problem is much more political than legal

, and that in the midst of a negotiation of immense depth that should be finalized in the next three weeks, a long-term lawsuit is useless, but there is no choice but to move the card.

The infringement procedure is the basic instrument within the Community powers.

Every month there are cases for all kinds of issues, from non-compliance to the lack of transposition of directives.

They are

long processes

designed for those who are still within the EU.

The UK is no longer a member per se, but as it continues to have to respect EU laws during these months, the decision is in line with the rules.

It has symbolic value, it is a political statement but at the legal level it does not have any force at this point.

It is an internal channel, it does not imply going to any arbitration court nor is it based on international law, but on community law.

A pact in the coming weeks

It is about launching a message,

because precisely today an extraordinary European Council begins in Brussels with all the heads of State and Government of the 27. Although Brexit will not be part of the debate on the agenda, there will be an "information point" by Von der Leyen herself and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

It is expected that in the middle of this month, at another Summit, the leaders will address the issue directly.

On December 31, the so-called Transition Period ends

, which began in January.

From then on, the United Kingdom will not be under the umbrella of European legislation, but if there is no agreement there will not be a legal framework for free trade either, so the basic trade rules set by the World Trade Organization would have to be applied. with high tariffs.

To avoid it there is only one chance, a pact in the coming weeks.

Few weeks, because the process must be ratified by the European Parliament and some national (and even regional), which will take a while.

The negotiations are not completely stalled, but almost.

There are aspects that look very bad but beyond the technical problems

there is an absolute level of distrust.

If London has already broken its word without any shame, compromising the situation in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Peace Accords, how can the 27 trust that it will not become a problem in everything else?

The EU demands as part of the negotiation that there be a

Leyel-playing field

, a fair

playing field

, or what is the same: that the United Kingdom does not become a rival that does not respect the rules, that it does tax or labor dumping , or that provides disproportionate State aid to their companies to compete with advantage with the Community.

London has always said that there is no reason to doubt its word, but after having skipped it without complexes it has lost all credibility.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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