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Brussels (AP) - In the dispute over Brexit rules for Northern Ireland, the European Union is considering legal action against Great Britain.
A conversation between EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and British Brexit Commissioner David Frost did not bring any rapprochement, said a commission spokesman on Thursday.
"We are now examining the next steps."
The legal instrument would be the arbitration procedure provided for in the Brexit Treaty.
On Wednesday, the British government unilaterally extended transitional rules for food deliveries for the British province of Northern Ireland until October, triggering sharp protests from the EU Commission.
Sefcovic spoke of a violation of the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol and held a crisis talk with Frost.
This defended the decision of London even afterwards as "temporary technical steps".
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However, the background to this is an unresolved political question of principle.
The EU exit treaty provides for special rules for the EU internal market for the British province of Northern Ireland, which should make border controls with the EU state Ireland on the common island superfluous.
This creates a goods border with other parts of the UK - imports have to be controlled.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has always downplayed this and ruled out obstruction.
A grace period of a few months with reduced controls was agreed with Brussels.
However, many companies complain of difficulties in trading between the UK and Northern Ireland.
Sometimes supermarket shelves remained empty.
The first transition phase should end at the end of March.
According to this, suppliers of animal products must be in possession of health certificates for deliveries from the UK to Northern Ireland.
Frost justified the unilateral extension with the "often excessive consequences" of some aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210304-99-684858 / 2