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Ireland warns that no post-Brexit trade deal will be reached if the UK goes ahead with a plan to violate international law.
Tensions have escalated following comments from senior officials from both governments ahead of another crucial week for negotiations.
Ireland Chancellor Simon Coveney told Sky News that he should Boris johnson persist in trying to nullify parts of the I divorce agreement, then a new treatise on the future relationship will be off the table.
The transition period expires on December 31
“This is move-in week,” he said. “We have to make great progress.”
But a senior UK minister confirmed that Johnson will stick with his plan and keep the controversial parts of the bill.
The peers have removed the offending parts of the internal market bill, which included giving ministers the power to “de-apply” parts of the withdrawal agreement related to the transport of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
The bill will return to the Commons soon, but Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that all the original pieces will be added back.
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He faced the ultimatum from Coveney, who told the show that if that happened, then: “This is an agreement that will not be ratified by the EU.
“There is an absolutely unanimous opinion that if the British government deliberately decides to violate international law and undermine a treaty that is not even 12 months old, then why would the EU sign a new agreement, when the UK is breaking the existing one? ?
“Any logical person who hears that argument will surely understand where the EU is coming from.”
Negotiations continue in Brussels next week
But he added: “Having said that, I think we should focus less on the legality of these issues and more on resolving the outstanding issues.”
If the two pending disputes in the trade agreement – fisheries and state aid – can be resolved, then “the issues that the [UK] The government says that they have, that they are dealing with the Internal Market Law, they effectively disappear anyway ”, he added.
The bill gives ministers powers to ‘de-enforce’ parts of the divorce settlement that covers trade
In a sign of movement ahead of more talks in Brussels next week, UK chief negotiator Lord Frost said “there has been some progress in a positive direction in recent days.”
Although he warned that “we may not succeed,” he urged companies to prepare for the change when the transition period expires on December 31, regardless of the outcome.
Labor has repeatedly called on the government to come to an agreement, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth told Sky News: “Due to the coronavirus, this country’s economy has taken a massive hit. We know we get a good hit. agreement with the EU will be better. ” for people’s jobs.
“Boris Johnson told us he had an oven-ready deal … He has to keep his promise to the British people and get that deal.”
The prime minister said he wants to keep trade within the UK barrier-free.
The UK’s stance has also come under renewed pressure due to the election of Joe Biden as US President-elect, given his previous comments. warning that peace in Northern Ireland becomes a “victim” of Brexit.
Brandon Lewis, the secretary of Northern Ireland, accepted the internal market bill two months ago “violates international law”, prompting a severe backlash in Westminster and abroad.
The head of the government legal department resigned, as did a conservative ministerand former prime ministers and conservative leaders, including Brexit supporter Michael Howard, have opposed the bill, while Brussels has initiated legal action.
Johnson has said the measures are necessary to ensure the free flow of goods into the UK.
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