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A new clash over Brexit gained steam on Thursday.
In annoying terms, the EU threatened legal action if the British government did not change the law.
Late on Thursday, London chose to draw its sword and urge to fight against the bill presented on Wednesday, with the intention of creating a “legal safety net” around the situation in Northern Ireland and internal trade. in the United Kingdom.
The announcement that the invoice left by British Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove to the EU Maros Sefcovic. He is the representative of the European Commission on the Joint Steering Committee, which deals with the consequences of the exit agreement between the UK and the EU, which was clearly negotiated last autumn. And it does not adapt the words.
“The EU does not accept the argument that the aim of the law is to protect the Good Friday Agreement (on peace in Northern Ireland). In fact, the EU believes that it does the opposite,” said a statement after the Extraordinary meeting of the steering committee on Thursday.
Sefcovic is now urging the British government to withdraw controversial parts of the proposal “as soon as possible and no later than the end of the month.”
“Britain has seriously damaged trust between the EU and Britain. Now it is up to the British government to restore that trust,” the European Commission said in a statement, which also warned of legal action “that the EU will not refrain from using.” .
– We are so boring and legal. This is how the rule of law works, an anonymous EU official tells the Reuters news agency.
The steering committee meeting was held at the same time as key UK and EU negotiators David Frost and Michel Barnier also met in London to reconcile this week’s round of negotiations on conditions for future trade, fisheries and other cooperation after the change in year.
Discussions have so far been extremely slow, prompting the UK to warn that it is doing well without a deal, if a solution cannot be reached by October 15.
Barnier said late Thursday that the contradictions remain deep. After the talks, he said that the practical, economic and social consequences will be profound if there is no agreement, reports AFP.
