Brits want to break Brexit deal

Just a week after surviving a no-confidence vote in his group, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has started a new dispute with the EU. A bill introduced in the House of Commons on Monday is intended to unilaterally change the Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland agreed with Brussels. Criticism of the plans came from Brussels and Berlin as well as from the Irish government in Dublin and the majority of MPs in the Northern Irish regional parliament. On the other hand, the move was welcomed by the unionist-Protestant DUP party in Northern Ireland.

The law is necessary to ensure stability and peace in the former troubled province, said British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. She added: “We remain open to talks with the EU.” However, progress can only be made if Brussels accepts changes to the agreement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“Further legal uncertainty”

London is threatening to stop the goods controls agreed in the protocol to protect the EU internal market and to replace them with a voluntary regulation. In addition, the role of the European Court of Justice is to be drastically restricted. London also wants to give itself a free hand when it comes to VAT regulations. According to a large number of experts, this would be a clear breach of international law. However, the government in London denies this.

EU Vice-President Maros Sefcovic made it clear that renegotiating the Northern Ireland Protocol is out of the question. “It would just mean more legal uncertainty for people and businesses in Northern Ireland,” Sefcovic said in Brussels on Monday evening. The EU Commission will now consider resuming the legal proceedings against London that had been started for previous violations but were then put on hold. The initiation of further infringement procedures that could protect the European internal market will also be examined.

Scholz: Have “the whole set of instruments” available

Chancellor Olaf Scholz threatened the British government with far-reaching measures because of the planned break. “It’s a very regrettable decision, and there’s no reason for it,” said Scholz on Monday evening in Berlin. The EU will react very uniformly. “And she has her entire toolbox at her disposal,” added the chancellor, with a view to possible consequences, without giving any details. As the situation escalates, the risk of a trade war between the EU and the UK is growing.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused the British government of unilaterally breaking agreements. “And for transparent, own motives,” wrote the Green politician on Twitter. The EU will respond to the “breach of trust” as one. “Peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland is not a pawn,” added Baerbock.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Michael Martin described the move as a “new low” and said it was “very unfortunate for a country like Britain to break an international agreement”.

Headwind for Johnson also came from Northern Ireland’s capital, Belfast. A letter signed by 52 of the 90 MPs in Northern Ireland’s regional parliament said the bill went against the express wish of businesses and people in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland divided

Sharp criticism came from the Catholic-Republican party Sinn Fein, which became the strongest force in Northern Ireland for the first time in May’s regional elections. “It’s ruthless, it’s disgraceful and it’s in no way serving the interests of the people here,” said Michelle O’Neill, Prime Minister-elect and Sinn Fein Vice President.

Jeffrey Donaldson, head of the Protestant Unionist party DUP, which is blocking the formation of a unity government in Northern Ireland in protest against the protocol, found words of praise. According to Donaldson, what the government in London has presented is a solution and that is what is needed at the moment.

Johnson still under pressure

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.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushed through the agreement against the will of the DUP during the 2019 election campaign and celebrated it as a major breakthrough. He then won a clear majority in the parliamentary elections. In the meantime, however, he has gotten into trouble because of the affair about lockdown parties at the seat of government. Last week he had to face a no-confidence vote in his own group. He was able to assert himself, but is considered politically counted. According to British commentators, he wants to secure the support of Brexit hardliners in his group with this step.