Boris Johnson's camp assumes.
London defended Wednesday its desire to reverse certain commitments made in the context of Brexit, in assumed violation of international law, angering Europeans at a critical moment in negotiations on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the 27.
More than seven months after the historic exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, tension is rising between the two parties, who are supposed to agree before the end of the year on the terms of their cooperation, commercial or security.
In this delicate context, the British government published the bill, announced at the beginning of the week, tweaking to "clarify" the agreement which had framed the divorce last January.
Regarding in particular customs arrangements in Northern Ireland, it is intended to facilitate trade within the United Kingdom after the end of the post-Brexit transition period which will end at the end of December.
But by retoking a document having the status of an international treaty, this text "violates international law in a very specific and limited way", by the own admission of the Minister in charge of Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis.
Trust "undermined"
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, believes that this text "would violate international law and undermine trust" between the two partners, in the midst of negotiations on their future relationship.
The German said in a tweet that she was "very concerned" by the British announcements and cites the Latin phrase "pacta sunt servanda" (conventions must be respected), considering that this was "the basis of future prosperous relations" .
Very concerned about announcements from the British government on its intentions to breach the Withdrawal Agreement.
This would break international law and undermines trust.
Pacta sunt servanda = the foundation of prosperous future relations.
- Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 9, 2020
Criticized even in his own camp, including by the former head of government Theresa May, Boris Johnson defended his project in front of the deputies during the weekly session of the questions to the Prime Minister.
The text aims to "guarantee the fluidity and security of our British internal market", he justified.
Critics are fired against Boris Johnson
In the original text, the Northern Irish Protocol aims to guarantee the absence of a physical border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU, and to avoid the resurgence of tensions in this blood-stained region. by three decades of "troubles" until the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998. A joint commission, intended to resolve the difficulties in the application of this agreement, is mentioned.
The return of customs controls raises fears of renewed tensions in the British province.
Nevertheless, the text of the British government would allow it to set aside the joint commission in certain circumstances, and to take unilateral decisions on matters relating to trade with Northern Ireland and the impact of state aid in the region. .
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
It is about "protecting our country from the extreme or irrational interpretation of the protocol, which could lead to a border in the Irish Sea in a way which in my opinion would be detrimental to the interest of the agreement. of Good Friday and prejudicial to the interests of peace in our country ”, pleaded Boris Johnson.
The leader of the Scottish separatists of the SNP in the House of Commons, Ian Blackford, accused him of wanting to create a "rogue state" and of considering himself "above the law".
"We must keep our word"
The German government has said it is "waiting" for the UK to "fully" implement the Brexit deal.
“Commitments have been made, they must be implemented.
Among friends and allies, we must keep our word and respect the law, ”added the French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune.
Despite its exit from the EU, the United Kingdom remains governed by European regulations until the end of December, a period of transition during which the two parties attempt to conclude a free trade agreement.
Discussions remain deadlocked and raise fears of a destructive "no deal" for the economy.
While defending its maneuver, the British government is piloting an eighth session of negotiations with the EU which opened on Tuesday, and is to last until Thursday.
Arrived in London, EU negotiator Michel Barnier will seek clarification on these latest developments.
Before the start, British negotiator David Frost called on the EU to "be more realistic about the status of independent country" of the United Kingdom.
READ ALSO>
Post-Brexit negotiations: Boris Johnson highlights the threat of "no deal"
The negotiations come up against in particular fishing and the conditions of fair competition.
Time is running out, Brussels wanting an agreement by the end of October to allow ratification on time.
Boris Johnson warned for his part that for lack of compromise between now and the European summit on October 15, he would be satisfied with a "no deal".