The European Union is set to launch a two-pronged legal assault on the UK in the coming days after the British government’s decision to violate an international treaty by allow businesses in Northern Ireland more time to adapt to post-Brexit treaty (the withdraw agreement).
Šefčovič, the EU’s co-chair of the joint committee overseeing implementation of the withdrawal agreement, subsequently accused the UK of breaching both it and, potentially, international law, as well as a “clear departure” from constructive cooperation.
EU27 ambassadors were briefed on Tuesday on the plans, which are likely to involve initiating a formal “infringement proceeding” that could end up at the European court of justice (ECJ), and triggering the dispute mechanism in the #Brexit withdrawal agreement.
The European commission vice-president Maroš #Šefčovič told the ambassadors the plans were still being worked on but diplomats said on Wednesday there was full agreement at the meeting that the EU “had to act firmly” and action could begin as early this week.
To avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, the Northern Ireland protocol, part of the withdrawal agreement, requires checks on goods transiting from Britain to Northern Ireland to make sure they comply with the bloc’s rules.
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