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Boris Johnson has withdrawn his plan to violate international law by breaking parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
Michael Gove and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, reached an agreement on the pending aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement, including issues related to the Northern Ireland border.
In a joint statement, the UK and the EU said “agreement in principle” had been reached on all the issues.
But Johnson still faces an uphill climb to secure a trade deal with the EU before the transition period ends on January 1.
The agreement covers issues such as border controls on animal and vegetable products, the supply of medicines and the delivery of refrigerated meats and other food products to supermarkets.
There were also “clarifications” on the application of the rules on state subsidies.
In view of these “mutually agreed solutions”, the UK Government will withdraw clauses 44, 45 and 47 of the UK Internal Market Act, which could have annulled the Withdrawal Agreement, and will not introduce similar provisions into the Act of taxes.
MPs voted last night to reintroduce the bill’s clauses, after the House of Lords removed them.
Mr Gove and Vice-President Šefčovič said: “Following intensive and constructive work in recent weeks by the EU and the UK, the two co-chairs can now announce their agreement in principle on all issues, in particular with regard to the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“Agreement has been reached in principle in the following areas, among others: border checkpoints / points of entry specifically for controls of animals, plants and derived products, export declarations, supply of medicines, supply of refrigerated meats and others food products to supermarkets, and a clarification on the application of state aid under the terms of the Protocol “.
It comes after Johnson warned that talks with the European Union on a trade deal were proving “very complicated.”
The prime minister said he still had hopes of reaching an agreement, but that it was proving “very, very difficult” to move forward.
Later this week, Johnson will head to Brussels for a face-to-face conversation with European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen in an attempt to salvage a deal, and time is running out before current trade deals expire. at the end of the month.
Johnson said he hoped the “power of sweet reason” would triumph, but Brussels had to accept that there were limits to the terms the UK would be willing to accept.
Talks have failed over issues of fishing rights, “level playing field” measures aimed at preventing the UK from undermining the EU on state subsidies and rules, and how any deal will be governed.
In a message to Brussels, the Prime Minister said: “Our friends have just understood that the UK has left the EU in order to exercise democratic control over the way we do things.
“There is also the issue of fishing, where we are still very far away.
“But hope is eternal, I’ll do my best to fix it if we can.”
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