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The European Union launched a legal process, accusing the United Kingdom of violating the Brexit agreement by unilaterally changing the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The European Union (EU) today sent an official letter aimed at initiating a “criminal lawsuit” against the United Kingdom, which could result in financial fines in the European Court of Justice. However, this process can take at least a year and there is still time for the EU and the UK to find a solution to the disagreement.
Maros Sefcovic also sent a letter to his British counterpart, David Frost, urging London not to violate the Brexit deal and to propose dialogue.
A cargo checkpoint in Northern Ireland in February. Photo: AP.
The series of movements was applied after the British government announced on March 3 to extend the delay of the customs inspection with food to Northern Ireland. Food and agricultural products could be shipped from mainland England to Northern Ireland without customs inspection until October 1, instead of March 31, as agreed by the UK and the EU.
The EU accused this of violating the bilateral Brexit deal, claiming that the UK had unilaterally changed the Northern Ireland Protocol. Meanwhile, London claims not to violate the Irish and Northern Ireland principles.
Britain officially left the EU on the night of December 31, 2020, becoming the first country to leave the political and economic bloc that was established when the continent was rebuilt after World War II. However, Northern Ireland continues to comply with the rules of the single market and the EU customs union to avoid the need to establish a “hard border” between the region and the Republic of Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Protocol was signed by the UK and the EU last year, in which the EU sends customs officials to Northern Ireland, to work at ports between the region and the rest of the British mainland, to verify cargo passing through ports and ensuring that it meets EU market standards when entering Northern Ireland.
The two parties agreed to exempt Northern Ireland from customs inspection of UK food and agricultural products in the first three months of 2021 so that Northern Ireland businesses have time to adapt to the new regulations.
Vu anh (Follow, continue Reuters)
