Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
EU ‘MADE MISTAKES’
Senior official says bloc ‘deeply regrets’ botched Article 16 move
THE European Commission vicepresident has said mistakes were made leading up to the EU’S attempt to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Maros Sefcovic added the bloc “deeply regrets” how it handled the issue.
He told the Republics European Affairs Committee: “But in a matter of three hours we got it right.
“Article 16 was never activated and I can reassure you it learned the lesson and will do its utmost to protect peace in Northern Ireland, as it has done throughout the entire Brexit process.
“I’m sure you will ask me, how can I prove that?
“I think the best answer is our track record, unwavering support, political, economic and financial to the peace process since the Belfast Agreement.
“Also the way in how we conducted the entire Brexit negotiation process. I really would like to underscore the fact that Ireland and Northern Ireland was not only on our minds all the time but also in our hearts as well, and I believe we achieved very, very good results.”
Mr Sefcovic also told the Oireachtas committee: “I would like to stress that our commitment to the protocol is unwavering but we also have to understand that the implementation of the protocol is a shared responsibility.
“It must be always a two-way street. We also have to recognise the fact that we knew from the beginning that the
United Kingdom leaving the European Union, the Customs Union and the Single Market is a massive operation, that it’s not possible to prevent all the disruption.
“We could do our best and we are working on it to minimise the negative impact on the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“But it was quite obvious from the begin- ning that there will be the teething problems.
“I believe that we can resolve them if we work very well together.”