The UK government denies any possible violation of international law, arguing that the changes would mean the United Kingdom would stay together.
The UK government on Monday introduced legislation in parliament that would eliminate parts of the Brexit deal with the European Union (EU) if Britain leaves the Common Economic Area.
While the British government insists that the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is intended to fix parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the European Union is opposing the move because it warns that it will be implemented by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson two years ago. Signed goes back to agreed terms.
The UK government denies any possible violation of international law, arguing that the changes would mean the United Kingdom would stay together.
“This bill will uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) agreement and support political stability in Northern Ireland,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said. The bill was first read in the House of Commons.
“This will end the volatile situation where people in Northern Ireland are treated differently from the rest of the United Kingdom, protect the supremacy of our courts and our territorial integrity. It will solve the problems facing Northern Ireland.” There is a reasonable, workable solution,” she said.
The minister stressed that the move would protect the EU’s single market and ensure there were no hard borders on the island of Ireland.
“We are ready to deliver this through negotiations with the EU. But we can only progress through talks if the EU itself is willing to change the protocol – at the moment they are not.
“Meanwhile, the dire situation in Northern Ireland means we cannot allow the situation to worsen. As the government of the entire United Kingdom, it is our duty to take the necessary steps to maintain peace and stability,” Truss said.
The bill follows 18 months of discussions with the EU to find a solution, which the UK sees as “problems baked into the protocol” to “fix” and the government to keep it “consistent” with international law. Is.
But it has been heavily criticized by senior EU figures.
A spokesman for Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the bill “marks a particular low point in the UK’s approach to Brexit” and said the plan would “ratchet up” tensions and violate the UK’s international commitments.
But Prime Minister Johnson has insisted the law would introduce a “relatively simple” change and said it would be a “gross overreaction” by the EU.
Under the new law, the British government wants to remove “redundant” paperwork on checking goods and businesses in Northern Ireland will get the same tax exemptions as elsewhere in the UK. The bill would also ensure that any trade dispute is resolved by “independent arbitration”, and not by the European Court of Justice.
With Ireland an EU country and Northern Ireland part of the United Kingdom, the Northern Ireland Protocol has always been the most difficult aspect of Brexit negotiations, which has upset both sides since Britain voted to leave the European Union six years ago. has continued to do.
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