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A nurse protests in her own way against the policies of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Image: keystone
Johnson’s Brexit deal nullifies international law, sparks resentment in Brussels
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants changes to the already valid Brexit agreement with the European Union. His Northern Ireland minister, Brandon Lewis, confirmed in the UK Parliament on Tuesday legislative plans that would undermine part of the deal. Lewis even admitted that doing so would violate international law, but only to a “very limited degree.” In Brussels, people stare at London in disbelief and can hardly believe the announcements made by the British government.
President of the EU Parliament David Sassoli met with EU negotiator Michel Barnier on Tuesday afternoon and then stood slightly annoyed in front of the cameras: “Any attempt by the UK to undermine the treaty would have serious consequences, of course, “Sassoli informed partners in London.
Because this contract is a valid international agreement that regulates all the conditions for Britain’s departure from the EU. It was negotiated in 2019 and ratified before Brexit at the end of January. The EU insists on compliance with the treaty. The EU Commission emphasizes that this is a prerequisite for the conclusion of the trade agreement with Great Britain, which is scheduled for 2021. This new agreement will be negotiated again this week. It should avoid tariffs and chaos when the transition phase of Brexit expires later this year. But now the British barrage against the exit treaty overshadows this eighth round of negotiations.
David Sassoli. Image: keystone
Johnson himself is said to have described this 2019 deal as contradictory. It must be rewritten, the “Telegraph” quoted from a message from the Prime Minister on Tuesday. The treaty with the EU had unforeseen consequences that had to be corrected. Officially, a government spokeswoman declined to say anything.
Criticisms of the opposition
But the then Northern Ireland minister, Lewis, came forward in parliament and, in principle, confirmed exactly this: on Wednesday the so-called Internal Market Act would be introduced, nullifying parts of the deal. “Yes, that actually violates international law in a very special and limited way,” said the minister, and even shook his head at British MPs.
The approach was criticized by the opposition and the ranks of the ruling conservatives. “In view of its future international partners, how can the government ensure that they can trust that Great Britain will comply with the legal obligations in the signed agreements?” Asked former Prime Minister Theresa May. back.
The content deals with crucial contract clauses about Northern Ireland, which were controversial from the start. Its aim is to prevent a fixed border from developing between British Northern Ireland and the EU state Ireland. In the withdrawal agreement, London had agreed to register grants for companies in the EU, provided they relate to business in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland companies must also submit export declarations if they wish to bring goods to mainland Britain. According to the “Financial Times”, London’s planned single market law would partially nullify these contractual commitments.
Brexiters in London have always opposed the special rules for Northern Ireland because they fear the province will disengage from the rest of the UK. Johnson still signed the resignation agreement personally. Because the EU insisted on avoiding controls at the Irish internal border during Brexit, which would contradict the Good Friday peace deal for Northern Ireland.
The EU negotiator himself, Barnier, did not initially respond to the latest statements from Johnson and Lewis on Tuesday. The EU side wants to wait and see what is really in the British draft of an internal market law. But Parliament Speaker Sassoli was clear: the EU expects Britain to honor all the commitments it has made, he said.
Other MEPs also expressed their outrage. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain is on the verge of losing its international credibility,” wrote the leader of the liberals in the European Parliament, Dacian Ciolos, in response to Lewis on Twitter.
Critics fear that Britain’s demand for a valid deal could be the fatal blow to the envisioned trade deal. As a result, there could be a break with tariffs and other trade barriers in early 2021, after the end of the transition phase of Brexit. However, some observers view London’s comments as just an internal political maneuver, especially as Johnson is under enormous internal pressure due to the Corona crisis. There were still opportunities for a trade pact, for example, Bloomberg wrote.
Sassoli also emphasized this: the EU will continue to work constructively on a compromise, he said. But the anger for London is great. “It is very serious,” said the leader of the European People’s Party group, Manfred Weber, of the German press agency. Weber also considers adherence to the contract to be an obligation. “Europe will not be blackmailed,” said the CSU politician. “If the British government doesn’t want a deal, it will get it.”
The British chief negotiator, David Frost, who brought forward the start of the new round of negotiations with the EU on Tuesday with reproaches to Brussels, carried out a similar verbal weapon. “We have been talking for six months and we cannot afford to go off the beaten track,” Frost said. “We have to move forward this week if we want to reach an agreement on time.” It was initially open whether the London announcements would encourage or hinder such progress. (sda / dpa)
