UK unilateral action on Northern Ireland protocol ‘temporary steps’ as EU promises legal move | Political news

The UK has defended its unilateral action on the Northern Ireland protocol, calling the measure “temporary and technical steps” that “largely” continue with the measures already in place.

It comes after the European Union said it would take legal action over Britain’s decision to continue grace periods at the Irish Sea border until October.

European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said the UK move amounted to a violation of its post-Brexit obligations.

The first of the light regulation schemes on goods from the rest of the UK in transit to Northern Ireland were due to expire at the end of March.

Supermarkets would have had to produce export health certificates for all consignments of animal products, as Northern Ireland is part of the EU single market.

Cabinet member Lord David Frost said the UK intervention should allow time for positive discussions with their counterparts in Brussels.

In an effort to ensure that there is no firm border on the island of Ireland, the protocol, which is part of the UK Withdrawal Agreement, allows Northern Ireland to remain under some EU rules.

But this means that there must be customs declarations on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, including checks on some products.

Northern Ireland companies have been calling for an extension of grace periods to avoid having to deal with additional bureaucracy.

Now London has said grace periods like those for agri-food moves from supermarkets from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland will “continue” until October.

Lord Frost, who is the Cabinet Office minister responsible for EU-UK relations, spoke to Sefcovic on Wednesday night amid the tensions.

He said progress is needed to “address the direct and often disproportionate impact that aspects of the protocol are having on the citizens of Northern Ireland, contrary to its intended purpose,” according to a UK government spokesperson.

And the minister explained that the new measures were “temporary technical steps, which largely continued with the measures already in force, to give more time to companies such as supermarkets and parcel operators to adapt and implement the new protocol requirements.”

He stressed that they were “the minimum steps necessary to allow time for constructive discussions in the Joint Committee to continue without the prospect of disrupting the daily lives of people in Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.”

Hours earlier, a statement from the European Commission read: “Following today’s UK government statement, Vice President Sefcovic has expressed the EU’s strong concern over the UK’s unilateral action as this amounts to a violation of the relevant substantive provisions of the Ireland / Northern Ireland protocol and the obligation of good faith under the Withdrawal Agreement.

“This is the second time that the UK government is willing to violate international law.

This is also a clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed so far, thus undermining the work of the Joint Committee. [UK-EU committee tasked with implementing the Brexit deal] and the mutual trust necessary for solution-oriented cooperation. “

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the UK move undermines the UK’s commitment to the protocol.

He said: “A unilateral announcement is profoundly useless in building the relationship of trust and partnership that is fundamental to the implementation of the protocol.”

DUP Westminster Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: “While supermarkets and those bringing goods through our ports from Britain will be relieved to see extensions to grace periods, we will continue to push the government for a permanent solution. “.

“Grace periods do not provide the long-term certainty that Northern Ireland businesses and consumers require.

“The protocol has been shown not to be viable.”

Sinn Fein President Mary-Lou McDonald said: “At last week’s meeting of the Joint Committee, Michael Gove and Maros Sefcovic reaffirmed their support for the Irish Protocol and the need to work together to address the issues that have arisen.

“It is incredible that a week later the British government has gone alone and has taken unilateral measures.

“This was completely unnecessary, it totally undermines the work of the Joint Committee and puts it on an immediate collision course with the European Union.”