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The UK has missed the deadline to respond to legal action by the European Commission on legislation that undermines the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The European Commission has said it has not yet received a response to the start of the infringement procedures that began on October 1.
The deadline for the UK to respond to the EU’s formal notification letter was 1 November.
The Internal Market Bill, currently pending in the House of Lords, violates elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
A spokesman for the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said: “We sent a formal notification letter on October 1 to the UK for breach of its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement.
“As you know, I had until the end of the month to send your comments to that letter. To date I can confirm that the EU has not received a response from the UK. We are therefore considering next steps, including issuing a reasoned opinion. “.
A “reasoned opinion” is the next stage in an infringement procedure launched by the European Commission.
Dan Ferrie added: “More generally, I would recall that the EU is fully committed to achieving the full, timely and effective implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement within the remaining time available. That is why we started the infringement procedure on 1 October.
“This dispute will have to be resolved.”
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Ferrie said: “We are fully dedicated to the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.
“That is an agreement that we reached with the UK to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, in order to protect peace and stability on the island of Ireland. That agreement should be fully implemented and ready to start on 1 January. .
“We await a response from the UK and in the meantime we will consider our next steps.”
The internal market bill would give UK ministers the power to decide unilaterally on aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol, a key part of the Withdrawal Agreement, including issues of tariffs on goods moving from the UK. to Northern Ireland, and on the question of how the state aid rules will apply.
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