The European Commission accuses the United Kingdom of having unilaterally extended the “grace period” for trade on the island beyond 1 April, which allows it to avoid certain border controls
The European Commission accuses the United Kingdom of having unilaterally extended the “grace period” for trade on the island beyond 1 April, which allows it to avoid certain border controls
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The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom for violating the substantive provisions of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the obligation of good faith under the Withdrawal Agreement. This, points out Brussels, marks the start of a formal infringement process against the UK. This is the second time in six months that the British government has violated international law. The Commission, in particular, criticizes the United Kingdom for having unilaterally extended the ‘grace period’ for trade on the Irish island beyond 1 April, which allows it to avoid certain border controls. In fact, the EU and the United Kingdom share a land border within the Irish island, between the Republic of Ireland and the British Northern Ireland.
Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, EU co-chair of the Union-United Kingdom Joint Committee, explained that “the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is the only way to protect the Good Friday agreement and to preserve peace and stability, avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and maintaining the integrity of the single market. The EU and the UK have agreed and are required to implement it. The UK’s unilateral decisions and violations of international law nullify its very purpose and undermine trust between us. The UK needs to implement it properly if we are to achieve our goals. ‘
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The European decision follows the violation of the agreements on customs controls by London: it is the unilateral delay of the full application of the protocol concerning the movement of goods and travel of pets from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.