EU’s sausage war ceasefire
BRUSSELS will keep its threat of a trade war on the table during upcoming peace talks over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
EU Brexit chief Maros Sefcovic yesterday signalled a sausage wars ceasefire after the Government asked for the blockade on British-made bangers being sold in Northern Ireland to be pushed back.
The Brussels diplomat said he would hold talks with Brexit minister Lord Frost to reach a long-term solution.
But he refused to withdraw the threat of tariffs and quotas on British goods.
In a speech to the College of Europe, Mr Sefcovic said: “I am convinced that there is still a window for productive political dialogue and positive results, particularly in the light of the UK reaching out to us on chilled meats.
“And therefore, I trust that our UK counterparts will make use of this window with vigour and perseverance.”
Under the EU’s hardline interpretation of the Protocol to avoid a hard border, No10 must enforce its blockade on British chilled meats being sold in Northern Ireland. The Government wants the embargo pushed back to the end of September while a compromise is discussed. Whitehall officials fear the EU stance could spark violence in Northern Ireland with the current grace period to expire at the end of the month ahead of the marching season.
Insiders have suggested the Government could ignore EU rules to protect the peace process.
Mr Sefcovic accused the PM of having “buyer’s remorse” over the terms of the 2019 Brexit withdrawal deal.
He said if the UK continues to take unilateral action, “I fear a downward spiral in our relations, which would take our joint attention off a truly strategic partnership.
“And in this case the EU will not be shy in reacting firmly and resolutely to ensure that the letter and the spirit of the Protocol are respected.”