Since the election of the independence party Sinn Fein in the Northern Ireland elections, the island has been plagued by negotiations and tensions over the British province’s free trade with the Irish state.
This Wednesday, May 11, the EU offered proposals to find a solution to this file, rejected by London. Obviously, the refusal went wrong. We summarize the case in three points.
1. The EU proposal
London and Brussels have been engaged for months in discussions aimed at clarifying the terms of trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain governed by the « Northern Irish protocol ».
This protocol integrated into the post-Brexit agreement created a customs border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to preserve the free movement of goods between the British province and the Republic of Ireland.
The EU then proposed to relax customs control measures from October.
2. The refusal of the British
The proposal was rejected by the British Foreign Minister, Liz Truss, who considers that this solution would not solve the root of the problem and « in some respects would be a step backwards ».
In a press release published on Tuesday evening, the head of British diplomacy estimated that the European proposals « had failed to address the real problems in Northern Ireland and in some cases had even made the situation worse ».
“Prices have risen, trade is very disrupted and the people of Northern Ireland are subject to different laws and taxes than those living across the Irish Sea, which has deprived of an executive while constituting a threat to security”pleaded in a press release the Secretary to the Foreign Office.
London, she added, wants a negotiated solution, but “does not rule out any measure likely to stabilize the situation in Northern Ireland if no solution can be found”.
According to The Timesthe British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, could use his legislative powers to abolish customs controls and encourage the Northern Irish private sector to defy European rules, a radical solution which is not unanimous.
3. Threats gone wrong
The tone used by the British authorities displeased the other side of the Irish Sea. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney warned Britain against any unilateral move, in a statement to reporters in Belfast.
“Unilateral action would only make the situation worse. […] This would lead to legal action. This would potentially result in countermeasures” from the EU, he warned.
Problem solving should be done “through partnership”the » compromise « and “working together in a way that allows both sides to move forward”he added during a visit to meet local politicians.
The press information on London’s desire to free itself from the protocol was « very badly perceived within the European Union, which considered that the Commission has shown a willingness to find a compromise, wants the technical discussions in progress to lead to solutions and common ground »underlined the head of Irish diplomacy.
“What we hear and see from London is a rejection of this approach”go “towards a breach of international law and the setting aside of elements of a treaty which the British government played a central role in putting in place with the EU”he insisted. “It was not well received and I hope the decision-makers in Westminster will reflect on it. »