Brexit changes will void parts of the Withdrawal Agreement | Political news



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The ministers plan to nullify parts of the Brexit deal with a bill that could be “inconsistent” with it.

The controversial Internal Market Law has been published after the government admitted yesterday that it planned to “violate international law.”

Its aim is to distribute the powers that are brought from Brussels to Westminster and the delegated administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

But key components may contradict the withdrawal agreement approved by parliament last year, by allowing ministers to give themselves the power to determine rules on state aid and goods traveling between Northern Ireland and Britain.

The bill reads: “Certain provisions will enter into force despite incompatibility or incompatibility with international or national law.”

The details were reported earlier this week in the Financial Times, drawing strong criticism from Conservative MPs led by former Prime Minister Theresa May, who asked how other countries would be sure that the UK “can be trusted to deliver. with the legal obligations of the agreements signed. “.

Shortly after the plan was finalized, the President of the EU Council, Ursulla Von-der Leyen, condemned it in harsh terms.

“Very concerned by announcements from the British government about its intentions to violate the withdrawal agreement,” she tweeted.

“This would violate international law and undermine trust. Pacta sunt servanda = the foundation for prosperous future relationships.”

Charles Michel, President of the EU Council, added: “Breaking international law is not acceptable and does not create the trust we need to build our future relationship.”

It comes as trade deal talks enter a crucial week, with Brussels ‘top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier arriving in London, aware that both sides’ mid-October deadline is approaching.

The UK left the EU on January 31, but is now in a “transition period”, which means it continues to follow the same rules until the end of the year.

In early 2021, either a trade agreement will enter into force or there will be no agreement, which means that the two sides will return to trade under the terms of the World Trade Organization.

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