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- A crisis meeting between the European Union and Great Britain in the Brexit dispute has rekindled an old dispute.
- Britain’s internal market bill, which would violate previous Brexit agreements with Northern Ireland, is controversial.
- The EU Commission speaks of a “serious breach of trust”. Ultimately, he has asked Britain to withdraw this draft.
- Britain refuses and wants to present the project to the British Parliament.
Several EU diplomats said today that today’s round of negotiations between high-level representatives of both sides did not address EU concerns.
One of the diplomats criticized British Deputy Prime Minister Michael Gove only “in harsh phrases” when he spoke to Maros Sefcovic, Vice President of the EU Commission.
EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on his way to today’s Brexit talks with the British negotiator.
Keystone
It’s controversial: London has introduced a British internal market bill, which would undermine the clauses of the 2019 EU exit treaty for Northern Ireland. And this rekindles an old dispute that was believed to be resolved:
The special rules negotiated at the time for Northern Ireland were intended to avoid a hard border with the EU state, Ireland, and thus resume hostilities. But because Northern Ireland could dissociate itself from the rest of Britain, these special rules are a thorn in the side of Brexit supporters.
Brexit advocate and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying: with the Single Market Act, he wants to change precisely those points of the exit agreement with the EU that are particularly important to the EU.
The EU Commission calls for the withdrawal of plans
Therefore, the EU Commission urgently warns: if the British Parliament passes this amended Internal Market Act, it would be an “extremely serious violation” of the divorce agreement and international law. The British legislative initiative seriously damaged trust between Brussels and London.
The EU Commission has ultimately asked Britain to withdraw plans to modify the Brexit deal, no later than the end of September, Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic said.
Britain rejects the ultimatum and refuses to withdraw the plans: the draft will be presented to the British Parliament and looks forward to the relevant debate, said British negotiator Gove.
British Deputy Prime Minister Michael Gove on his way to Brexit negotiations with EU negotiator Sefcovic.
Keystone
From the EU point of view, the British exchange request is excluded. After all, the divorce treaty was negotiated, ratified, and went into effect for three years.
In Brussels, therefore, there is a puzzling question: Is Johnson serious? What is driving the prime minister with internal problems? Like the year before, do you give in at the last minute? Or do you really want the Big Bang by the end of the year?
The negative consequences for the economy would be: customs duties, delivery problems, additional costs. Politically it would be: loss of credibility on the international stage.
Sensitive to both sides
The situation is also delicate for the EU. With the trade agreement, he wants to establish a level playing field with the former member of Great Britain, avoid tariffs, secure his fishing rights in British waters and resolve dozens of issues.
And Brussels does not want the money if these negotiations fail. On the other hand, the EU does not want to sign a new contract with a partner that does not comply with the previous agreements.
