The dispute over customs rules for Northern Ireland eased on Friday. On the one hand, the EU Commission presented Billsto ensure Northern Ireland’s supply of medicines from the rest of the UK. On the other hand signaled the UK government for neglecting the sensitive issue of the role of the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland; London intends to concentrate negotiations with Brussels on practical problems for the time being.
The dispute revolves around the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol. This is part of the 2019 exit agreement and is intended to prevent customs officers from having to control trucks between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The protocol therefore stipulates that the former unrest province will continue to adhere to EU product rules and customs regulations despite Brexit. The logical consequence, however, is that deliveries of goods from England, Wales or Scotland to Northern Ireland must be checked. Because once trucks have left the Northern Irish ports, they can drive to the south of the island, i.e. to the EU, and from there by ferry to the other member states without any further controls.
The British government considers the new customs bureaucracy to be harassing and has arbitrarily extended transition periods to make imports easier for companies. The responsible Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič made proposals in October on how the red tape for trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the Kingdom could be reduced. At that point he announced the drug initiative. But that is not enough for his counterpart in London, Lord David Frost; he insists on a profound reform of the protocol. Among other things, Frost and his Prime Minister Boris Johnson dislike the fact that the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which is hated by Brexit fans, is responsible for disputes. That has to change, think the duo. However, this requirement is not negotiable for the EU.
Frost has now realized that he will not get any further with this demand. After speaking with Šefčovič on Friday, he issued a statement that his government would prefer “a comprehensive solution that addresses all issues”. But because this is not realistic and the difficulties in Northern Ireland are great, London now also wants to accept an “interim solution for the most pressing problems as a first step”. In other words: First of all, life should be made easier for companies and citizens, just in time for the parliamentary elections in Northern Ireland in May. The subject of the ECJ can wait. On this ideologically charged topic, London is also ready to be more flexible, as the British government has heard.
The changes to pharmaceutical regulation presented on Friday mean that medicines that only have British approval, but none of the EU, can be sold in Northern Ireland. The EU must change its laws for this; The EU Parliament and the Council of Ministers still have to agree.