Truss warns Brussels over NI Protocol
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned the EU that if it does not show the "requisite flexibility" over the Northern Ireland Protocol the UK will have "no choice but to act" alone.
Following a call with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, a Foreign Office spokesman said Ms Truss made clear that the UK'S "overriding priority" is to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
She told Mr Sefcovic the protocol has become "the greatest obstacle" to forming a new Northern Ireland Executive.
Following last week's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the DUP is refusing to enter into a new powersharing administration with Sinn Fein unless there are significant changes to the protocol which governs post-brexit trading arrangements.
However, according to the Foreign Office readout of the call, Mr Sefcovic again insisted that there is "no room to expand the EU negotiating mandate or introduce new proposals to reduce the overall level of trade friction".
The spokesman said: "The Foreign Secretary noted this with regret and said the situation in Northern Ireland is a matter of internal peace and security for the United Kingdom, and if the EU would not show the requisite flexibility to help solve those issues, then, as a responsible Government, we would have no choice but to act."
The latest row came as months of tensions over the working of the protocol which forms part of the UK'S Withdrawal Agreement with the EU - appear to be coming to a head.
Under its terms, the UK is required to impose checks on some goods crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
in order to maintain an open border with the Republic while protecting the EU single market.
However the Government has complained that the way it is being implemented is
imposing a huge burden on businesses in Northern Ireland while leading to a renewal of sectarian tensions.
Ministers have repeatedly warned that they could unilaterally suspend the arrangements
unless the EU agrees to major changes to reduce the impact. However that risks provoking an all-out trade war with Brussels.