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Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has said to many that it is “quite shocking that the British government is voting through its parliament on a bill that violates international law.”
He said it erodes trust and makes complex negotiations even more difficult.
He added that it has been a deliberate strategy by the UK government that is “very, very unpleasant” and damages Britain’s reputation internationally.
The big challenge for negotiating teams is to solve the problems that “make this legislation irrelevant” in an attempt to secure an agreement that is acceptable to all parties, Coveney said on his way to a cabinet meeting.
Read:
Johnson’s controversial Brexit bill clears Commons first hurdle
More Brexit stories
The European Parliament’s trade committee negotiator for EU-UK relations has said that the European Union has made compromises and shown openness in its approach to trade negotiations with the UK, but will not proceed unless modified or withdraw the UK Internal Markets Act.
Luxembourg MEP Christophe Hansen told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the EU now fears that failure to comply with the Withdrawal Agreement could cause significant damage to the EU internal market and the Irish peace project.
Hansen said the EU wants as close ties as possible to the future of UK gin, as there are huge mutual interests in that, but that without “full respect” for the Withdrawal Agreement, trade talks could not continue.
He said that while the talks are now on hold, the EU calls for elements of the controversial BIll to be withdrawn by the end of September.
Despite this, he said that the EU is in favor of reaching an agreement, but would not allow the UK to choose the commitments.
Hansen said the EU has shown openness on fisheries and has moved from a status quo to a new position in an attempt to reach a compromise.
He said the EU thought the UK was a reliable partner and could keep its commitment and signature. It is “a disappointment” and concerning to see the UK seek to implement legislation that would break an international agreement, she said.
The EU would seek at least the same commitments from the UK that it is giving to other trading partners, including Japan, where the UK has gone further with agreements on state aid, he added.
UK government ‘makes sure it stays true’ to Good Friday Agreement
Britain’s Home Secretary Priti Patel has said that the UK government ensures that it stays true to the Good Friday Agreement with the UK Internal Market Act.
“When it comes to preserving the integrity of the UK and clearly complying with the people of Northern Ireland when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement, we have said from day one … that we will always keep our word and will not compromise when it is about unrestricted access to goods and services, but also about respecting the Good Friday Agreement, “he told BBC Breakfast.
“We made sure that the UK internal market bill stays true to that principle, which is why we are introducing this bill.”
Meanwhile, a former Conservative Party cabinet minister has said it would be “unacceptable” to violate international law with legislation nullifying the Brexit divorce deal.
Andrew Mitchell attacked the provisions of the UK government’s internal market bill.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “The proposal that we march through the Lobby as legislators and say that we are going to ignore and repudiate a law that we have passed, related to the rule of law, is completely unacceptable.”
Mitchell said he supported much of the bill, but would not support it unless it was amended, but “… deliberately voting to violate international law is something I cannot do.
“And that is causing considerable anxiety and concern on the back benches.
“We all want to help the government with these negotiations, but doing so is against all British tradition.”
Yesterday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s controversial plan to overturn key elements of the Brexit deal he signed with Brussels overcame his first Commons hurdle despite deep misgivings from some high-ranking conservatives.
MEPs voted to give the UK internal market bill a second reading by 340 to 263, a government majority of 77.
Additional reporting PA
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