Northern Ireland dispute: how the EU wants to appease the British

The EU and Great Britain are arguing with increasing severity over the Northern Ireland Protocol. London is threatening to unilaterally suspend it. Today the EU wants to present its compromise.

There can be no talk of relaxation. On the contrary: The dispute between the EU and Great Britain over the Northern Ireland rules threatens to intensify. Because Boris Johnson’s government has made it clear in advance that further concessions from Brussels will not be enough.

Instead, the British side wants to renegotiate essential parts of the Brexit agreement – which in turn is out of the question for the EU. “Renegotiation would mean instability, uncertainty and unpredictability for the people of Northern Ireland,” said Commission Vice-President Mario Sefcovic last time he visited Belfast. And: “We will not do that.”

Customs border in the Irish Sea

It is mainly about the goods and customs controls between Northern Ireland and the British Isles, which London would like to get rid of. The EU insists, however, because otherwise – so the fear – products could come onto the European market that do not meet EU standards – food, for example, medicines or technical devices.

As a compromise offer, the Brussels authority now wants to dispense with controls on goods that are expressly intended for Northern Ireland, so that delivery bottlenecks can be avoided.

Eric Mamer, chief spokesman for the EU Commission, said:

We look for solutions to the practical problems in people’s everyday life. We are very constructive on this – but only within the framework of the agreement as it was signed.

And also from the government in London, more precisely: From Boris Johnson. Today the British Prime Minister would like to cancel the Northern Ireland Accord entirely. In any case, however, the passage that gives the ECJ, the European Court of Justice, the last word on disputes.

The ECJ is not available for the EU

But here, too, Brussels says very firmly: No. Daniel Ferrie, Commission spokesman for Brexit issues:

We should focus on what is important to the people of Northern Ireland, not on such proposals. Deleting the role of the ECJ would mean cutting off Northern Ireland from the European internal market.

With the result that the goods and customs controls would then have to take place on the Irish island, which would act like a border between the British northern part and the Republic of Ireland and possibly provoke a resurgence of violence in the former civil war region.

London threatens to suspend the protocol

So the situation is pretty muddled. London is now even threatening to apply Article 16 of the Brexit agreement and to completely override the Northern Ireland Protocol – with reference to the fact that the regulations lead to economic and social tensions.

In return, the European Union could impose punitive tariffs, but only after a presumably lengthy arbitration process. However, Brussels does not want the buck to be passed on for an impending trade war with Great Britain.

After all, the European Union cannot be held responsible for the costs of Brexit, says Commission Vice President Mario Sefcovic.