In the dispute with Great Britain over Brexit rules for Northern Ireland, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the negotiated regulation again.
Dublin - "The protocol is the only solution that we have found after years of discussions with Great Britain," said von der Leyen on Friday after a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin in Dublin.
"It is the only solution to protect peace and stability on the island of Ireland and the integrity of the internal market."
The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed between Brussels and London in the wake of Brexit. It is intended to avoid a hard border between the British province and the EU member in order to prevent new tensions in the former civil war region. However, this created a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. There are delivery problems, sometimes supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland remained empty. London has already extended transitional periods for controls several times, so there is a risk of legal confrontation.
Von der Leyen was convinced that the protocol had to be implemented.
The EU Commission has shown "huge flexibility", she said.
“I cannot imagine that our British friends will not show the same flexibility and the same pragmatism because we all share the same goal: We want peace and stability on the Irish island.” Prime Minister Martin von der Leyen jumped in.
The existing mechanisms are there to solve all open questions.
"We believe that the generosity shown by the EU should be reciprocated," said Martin.
The UK government regularly urges the EU to be casual about the protocol, which reflects reality.
(dpa)