The European Commission took action on Wednesday June 15 against London in retaliation for the launch of a unilateral review of Northern Ireland's post-Brexit status.

She announced infringement procedures paving the way for an action before the justice of the European Union, denouncing "a violation of international law".

The commissioner in charge of the post-Brexit agreement, Maros Sefcovic, announced at a press conference the launch of two new procedures for non-compliance with goods controls.

He also said that a third procedure had been relaunched.

This can lead to recourse to European justice and therefore to sanctions or financial penalties.

“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," said Maros Sefcovic.

London launches post-Brexit customs status review

The British government presented its bill to Parliament on Monday 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, conceding only adjustments.

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.

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 controls 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

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