Frost warns EU to cease trade wars
European diplomats ready for Britain to suspend parts of Northern Ireland deal but say US is with them
LORD FROST has urged France and the European Union to “stay calm” and drop trade war threats, as Brussels diplomats said they were preparing for Britain triggering Article 16.
Addressing the Lords, the Brexit minister told the bloc to “turn away from confrontation” that would risk peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, claimed to have the backing of President Joe Biden in the dispute over the NI Protocol. EU ambassadors were considering plans if the Government opts to suspend parts of the protocol by triggering Article 16, last night.
Following a meeting at the White House, Mrs von der Leyen said she had the support of the US administration for the protocol to be kept intact.
“President Biden and I agree that it is important for peace and stability on the island of Ireland to keep the withdrawal agreement and to stick to the protocol,” said Mrs von der Leyen.
“This protocol has managed to square the difficult circle that Brexit caused.
“And now Northern Ireland has access to both markets, access to the British single market as well as the European single market, therefore, the situation is a positive one.
“And we want to cut red tape to be as flexible as possible within the protocol.”
Lord Frost accused the bloc of considering “disproportionate” retaliatory measures to rip up the deal, but insisted a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland is still possible to cool tensions over the province.
“It’s not us making threats. I gently suggest our European friends should stay calm and keep things in proportion,” he told peers. “There’s a real opportunity to move beyond these difficulties. I urge everyone to take that road, not the road of confrontation.”
Lord Frost urged the bloc to “retreat” from its threats to hit British goods with trade tariffs and delay cross-channel shipments and help “find a quiet calm” in EU-UK relations.
Responding to claims that he is ready to walk out of negotiations, the Brexit minister vowed he “won’t give up on” talks. He questioned the bloc’s commitment to the Northern Ireland peace process, insisting its threat of a “massive and disproportionate retaliation” would only further serve to destabilise the province.
Maros Sefcovic, an European Commission vice-president, warned that there had been little progress in the negotiations over a new Brexit deal for the region. This provoked a debate over drawing up a unified package of measures to counter the possibility of Britain triggering Article 16.
‘There is a real opportunity to move beyond these difficulties. I urge everyone to take that road’
“The EU is preparing for the triggering of Article 16 by the UK,” an EU diplomat told The Daily Telegraph.
“There is consensus among EU member states that such an arbitrary and unjustified move by the UK will be met with a clear European response.”
Mr Sefcovic attempted to rein in European capitals amid fears that any pre-emptive strike could create a bad impression for the bloc’s other international trading partners.
He vowed to respond in a “firm but calm” manner should Article 16 be triggered by Boris Johnson, insisting that any measures should seek to protect the single market and limit any further damage to the EU.
Lord Frost will meet Mr Sefcovic, his EU counterpart, in London on Friday, to conclude the fourth consecutive of talks over the Northern Ireland Protocol.