UK stands firm against desperate EU court bid
BORIS Johnson stood firm last night after Brussels announced it was suing the UK over his plans to tear up parts of the Brexit divorce deal.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen launched legal proceedings and gave the Government a month to back down.
The Eurocrat made the incendiary move as talks on a trade deal reached their most critical stage.
But officials insisted the proposed new laws, which would stop Brussels carving up the UK if negotiations on future relations collapse, are a vital “safety net”.
The British Government said: “We have clearly set out our reasons for introducing the measures related to the Northern Ireland protocol.
“We need to create a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK’s internal market, ensure ministers can always deliver on their obligations to Northern Ireland, and protect the gains from the peace process.”
Mr Johnson wants to ensure Brussels cannot block food exports to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK if a trade deal cannot be reached. But the EU is furious because some of the measures in the Internal Market Bill would override part of the Withdrawal Agreement, which is now an international treaty.
Mrs von der Leyen said she was starting infringement proceedings after the Government failed to “remove the problematic parts” of the legislation.
She added: “This draft Bill is, by its very nature, a breach of the obligation of good faith laid down in the Withdrawal Agreement.
“Moreover, if adopted as is it will be in full contradiction of the protocol on Ireland/ Northern Ireland.”
She said the commission had sent a letter of formal notice to the UK Government, which is the first step in an infringement procedure.
Mrs von der Leyen held talks with Ireland’s premier, Micheal Martin, and agreed the terms of the divorce deal were essential for maintaining “peace and stability on the island of Ireland”.
Mr Martin said the commission’s legal proceedings were “to be expected”.
The Internal Market Bill has been criticised by all living former prime ministers and other politicians for its potential to breach international law.
It cleared the Commons but senior Tories, including former premier Theresa May, have refused to give it their support.
Peers warned the legislation faces a rocky ride in the Lords.
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC said: “Even putting this Bill through the House and passing this legislation is a breach of international law.
“We expect compliance with international law around the world, and for our Government not to be doing this is really shocking.
“Forget about amending it, we are going to be voting against it and there will be opportunities to do that. You are going to have a lot of very powerful voices speaking about what this does to Britain in the world.”
The European Commission announced its lawsuit as lead negotiators Lord Frost and Michel Barnier hold final formal Brexit trade talks today. Discussions though are likely to continue for two weeks until a meeting of EU leaders on October 15. Downing Street said the UK was continuing to work for a deal in the trade talks.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “They have been conducted in a constructive spirit and we certainly are committed to continuing to work constructively this week to reach an agreement with the EU.”
The legal action started by the commission is relatively common, with around 800 open cases against member states last year alone.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said: “The oven- ready deal was an international treaty – for the EU Commission, that is like the Bible.
“Whilst the EU always acts in bad faith, all they are doing today is asking Boris to keep his promises. “It should never have been signed in the first place.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “A deal can be done here, the issues that are there are quite capable of being resolved. “Both sides need to sit down, resolve them, get a deal.
“That’s in the national interest – it’s in our interest and the EU’s interest.”