UK faces down EU legal threat over N Ireland
EUROCRATS were last night accused of over-reacting after Brussels said it was suing the UK over its moves to defy EU red tape for Northern Ireland.
EU Commission vicepresident Maros Sefcovic gave Boris Johnson a month to back down or risk being hauled before the European Court of Justice.
He accused No 10 of breaching international law by temporarily suspending EU-ordered checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mr Sefcovic, the EU’s new Brexit chief, suggested the Prime Minister had abandoned his commitments to the 2019 divorce treaty.
British officials insisted the move was simply to stop supermarkets in the region from running bare as they come to terms with new paperwork.
Insiders say their actions were needed because eurocrats had dragged their feet in recent talks over possible exemptions from red tape for Northern Ireland.
Government lawyers have told ministers they have done nothing wrong and say Brussels is over-reacting.
A UK spokesman said: “Low key operational measures like these are well precedented and common in the early days of major international treaties.
“In some areas, the EU also seems to need time to implement the detail of our agreements.
“This is a normal process when implementing new treaties and not something that should warrant legal action.
“We look to continue discussing the issues in a constructive fashion.”
Brussels has launched a twin-track legal attack on Britain that could result in multi-million pound fines or punitive trade sanctions.
Mr Sefcovic said: “The EU and the UK agreed the protocol together.
“We are also bound to implement it together.
“Unilateral decisions and international law violations by the UK defeat its purpose and undermine trust between us.”
Separate talks between the Slovak diplomat and Brexit Minister Lord Frost are expected to begin before the end of the month to find a compromise.
An EU official said: “We are willing to discuss these matters, and stand ready to do so.
“The first step would be for the UK to tell us exactly what they intend to do, and when, in order to implement the protocol in full.”
To keep the Irish border open, Northern Ireland effectively remains part of the EU’s single market and checks are now made on some products arriving from the rest of the UK.
Both sides previously agreed to a three-month grace period from new controls to give time to adjust.
Downing Street is unilaterally extending the exemptions from the end of the month until October 1.