Northern Ireland dispute: EU starts proceedings against London

Created: 06/15/2022Updated: 06/15/2022 11:54 am

A road sign reading 'Welcome to Northern Ireland' stands by the roadside on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

© Peter Morrison/AP/dpa

The British government under Prime Minister Boris Johnson has again escalated the dispute over Brexit status for Northern Ireland with a new law.

The EU is now responding with an official procedure.

Brussels/London - In the dispute over Brexit rules for the British province of Northern Ireland, the EU is taking action against London.

With this, the EU Commission reacted on Wednesday to a law presented at the beginning of the week with which the British government could undermine a joint agreement - the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol.

Specifically, three legal procedures are involved: two of these infringement procedures will be initiated, another will be resumed.

These can result in proceedings before the European Court of Justice and a fine for London.

Despite repeated requests, the British government has failed to implement the protocol, the EU Commission said.

"This is a clear violation of international law." That is unacceptable, said EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, who is responsible for the negotiations between London and Brussels.

Border on the island should be avoided

Post-Brexit disputes erupted over how and where goods coming into Northern Ireland from the UK should be inspected.

Both sides want to avoid a border on the island of Ireland amid fears it could result in violence and reignite the Northern Ireland conflict.

The Northern Ireland Protocol is part of the 2019 Brexit deal.

It stipulates that the province, which is part of the United Kingdom, will continue to follow the rules of the EU internal market and the European Customs Union.

This is intended to prevent product controls for the EU member Republic of Ireland in order to prevent the conflict between opponents and supporters of a unification of the two parts of Ireland flaring up again.

But now an intra-British goods border has been created.

dpa