Northern Ireland: Brussels announces infringement proceedings against London
Border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The post-Brexit protocol aims to protect the European single market without causing the return of a physical demarcation between the British province and the Republic of Ireland.
AFP/File
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
This Wednesday, June 15, the European Commission took action against London in retaliation for the launch of a unilateral review of the post-Brexit status of Northern Ireland.
She announced infringement procedures paving the way for an action before the justice of the European Union, denouncing “
a violation of international law
”.
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Faced with the unilateral revision of the post-Brexit status of Northern Ireland by the United Kingdom, the commissioner in charge of the post-Brexit agreement, Maroš Šefčovič, announced - during a press conference - the launch of two new procedures for non-compliance with goods controls.
But also the relaunch of a third procedure that could lead to an appeal to European justice and therefore to sanctions or financial penalties.
Constrain London
“
The purpose of these procedures
” is to force London “
to comply with the Northern Irish protocol
”, concluded within the framework of the Brexit treaty, explained the European commissioner.
“
Acting unilaterally is not constructive.
Violating international agreements is not acceptable
”, asserted Maroš Šefčovič.
The British government presented, Monday, June 13, in Parliament, its bill which calls into question the post-Brexit status of Northern Ireland, after having demanded for months a revision of the protocol, which the Europeans refuse, granting only accommodations.
The protocol aims to protect the single European market after Brexit without causing the return of a physical demarcation between the British province and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the European Union, which could jeopardize peace in the region. .
Squaring the circle
To resolve this squaring of the circle, the government of Boris Johnson had accepted that Northern Ireland should remain
de facto
within the European market, establishing a customs border in the Irish Sea, with checks and paperwork.
This situation complicates supplies and horrifies the Unionist community, which believes that the place of the province within the United Kingdom is threatened.
(
with AFP
)
►Also read
: The EU is up in arms over the reorientation of London's policy on Northern Ireland
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