Despite the risk of reprisals from Europeans, the British government threatened on Tuesday May 17 to legislate in the coming weeks to reverse the post-Brexit controls that plunged Northern Ireland into a political crisis.
Due to the political impasse in the British province and the disruption in trade between the province and the rest of the United Kingdom, London wishes to renegotiate in depth the Northern Irish protocol concluded at the time of Brexit with the European Union, who only says she is ready for accommodation.
After months of fruitless discussions, the head of diplomacy Liz Truss explained to MPs that the government intended to “introduce a bill in the coming weeks to make changes to the protocol”. ‘It’s not about scrapping the protocol,’ and proposed legislation is compatible with UK’s obligations under international law, minister insists over anger-provoking plan on the EU side.
“Our preference remains a negotiated solution with the EU and, alongside the introduction of the legislation, we remain open to further discussions, if we can achieve the same result through a negotiated settlement. »
The EU has previously warned that knowingly going back on this treaty signed by Boris Johnson would violate international law and that the United Kingdom would be exposed to severe trade retaliation.
” Good start “
On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he “would like” to resolve the issue “in a consensual manner with our friends and partners” in the EU, adding however that the UK also needed “the assurance” of a “legislative solution at the same time”. The Tory leader was speaking during a visit to Northern Ireland, where he tried to convince the various political parties to find a compromise and “get back to work”.
Because, since the historic victory of the Republicans of Sinn Fein in the local elections on May 5, the Northern Irish institutions have been at a standstill. Unionists in the DUP refuse to participate in the local executive, which was supposed to be shared under the 1998 peace accord that ended three decades of bloody conflict, known as the “Troubles”. And they blocked the local Assembly by refusing to appoint a new candidate.
The Unionists thus intend to press for modification of the Northern Irish protocol, the agreement signed between London and Brussels to respond to the delicate question of the border between British Northern Ireland and the European Republic of Ireland after Brexit. This text creates a de facto customs border with Great Britain and threatens, according to them, the place of the province within the United Kingdom to which they are viscerally attached.
Amid the political tussle, Unionist DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson called the government announcements a “good start” but called for “deeds” not just “words”. Sinn Fein Republicans strongly oppose a British bill.
The EU “will have to respond with all means”
The Republic of Ireland, an EU member, is worried about the consequences of a possible British decision. “Any unilateral action is harmful,” Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin tweeted on Monday, calling for a solution through negotiation.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney on Tuesday expressed deep regret after Ms Truss spoke. “Such unilateral actions regarding a binding international agreement damage trust and will only serve to make it more difficult to find solutions to the real concerns” of residents of the province about the implementation of the protocol, he said. said in a statement.
The European Union “will have to respond with all the means at its disposal” if the United Kingdom carries out its threats, warned European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic in a statement.
The bill announced on Tuesday provides for goods moving and remaining within the UK to pass through a “new green channel”, freeing them from red tape. Goods destined for the EU will remain subject to all checks and controls applied under EU law.
“Businesses will be able to choose between meeting UK or EU standards in a new dual regulatory regime,” Ms Truss said. To address EU concerns over protecting the single market, London promises to share more data.
Northern Irish institutions had already experienced three years of paralysis, against the backdrop of a financial scandal, before an agreement allowed the restoration of their operation in January 2020.
