Brexit: EU starts legal action on UK

Brussels, June 15: The European Union is launching legal action against the UK in response to Britain’s unilateral moves to rip up parts of the post-Brexit deal between both sides, officials said on Wednesday,

But the European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, insisted it remained open to finding a joint solution outside of the courts. The proposed UK bill seeks to remove customs checks on some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

That will override parts of the trade treaty that Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed with the EU less than two years ago. The EU believes that the UK’s unilateral decision is violating international law and is unacceptable. European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefcovic told a news conference in Brussels that he’s willing to keep talks going with the UK in bringing long-term certainty to people and businesses in Northern Ireland, but insisted solutions should be found within the so-called Northern

There have been only new and new demands coming from the United Kingdom government. Can’t exclude imposing tariffs on UK goods in the future if the dispute can’t be settled.

— MAROŠ ŠEFCOVIC Vice President, European Commission

Ireland Protocol.

The protocol is the part of the Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods. Šefcovic, however, didn’t exclude imposing tariffs on UK goods in the future if the dispute can’t be settled. The 27-nation bloc said it will restart the infringement procedure launched against the UK government last year after Britain unilaterally extended a grace period that applies to trade on the island of Ireland.

The action had been put on hold in September 2021 as both parties tried to find joint solution, but the EU says it is forced to relaunch the action.