The Northern Ireland protocol remains a major dispute in the Brexit process. Is there still room for compromise? EU politician Manfred Weber is now under pressure.
BRUSSELS – CSU European politician Manfred Weber has linked the ratification of a trade agreement with Great Britain to the settlement of the Brexit Special Laws dispute for Northern Ireland.
If Easter does not find a solution, he does not see how the EU parliament can confirm the Brexit trade deal at this time, the group leader of the European People’s Party said in a “Spiegel” report on Friday. “We will not allow Boris Johnson to show us.”
The British government had announced that it would unilaterally extend the import restrictions in Northern Ireland, which had been ratified by the European Union, to six months. Unauthorized deviation from the valid agreement provoked the European Union. So this marked the beginning of the violation process.
The responsible EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefkovic was ready for a compromise. “We now realize that adaptation is more difficult and companies need more time,” said Sefkovich of the “Deutsche Zeitung” (Friday). The precondition for extending the grace period, however, is precisely how the British government will use the extra time. Previous statements are “absolutely inadequate”.
Regarding the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol, the restrictions between the British Northern Ireland and the European Union State of Ireland should be avoided. Customs formalities are now in place in Northern Ireland for deliveries from England, Scotland and Wales.
EU exit agreement with protocol approved in 2019. The European Union Trade Agreement with Great Britain took place at the end of December 2020. This is already being applied temporarily. The approval of the European Parliament is still pending. The deadline is April 30.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210319-99-890685 / 2
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