The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
PM: No need for EU drama over Protocol
Boris Johnson has told the European Union there is no need for “drama” as he doubled down on hints he could override elements of his post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that the Good Friday Agreement is more important than the Northern Ireland Protocol, as he dismissed suggestions of any possible escalatory response from the EU as “crazy”.
He said the protocol fails to command support from unionists in the region, adding “we need to sort it out”, despite warnings from Joe Biden’s White House and European leaders not to single-handedly meddle with the agreement he brokered.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is set to tell the EU that the dispute over Northern Ireland cannot drag on, after warning she will “not shy away” from taking action as she accused the EU of proposing solutions that would “take us backwards”. As ministers consider whether to introduce legislation overriding parts of the deal, senior Cabinet member Michael Gove warned “no option is off the table”.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed “no-one should unilaterally cancel, break or in any way attack the settlement”.
Amid suggestions unilateral action from the UK could spark a trade war during the backdrop of the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Johnson said: “Let’s face it, we’re talking about a very, very small part of the whole European economy and I think 0.4% of the value of the whole of the EU economy in Northern Ireland.
“It is crazy.
“I didn’t think there’s any need for drama.
“This is something that just needs to be fixed.”
At an earlier press conference in Sweden, Mr Johnson said: “The most important agreement is the 25-year-old Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
“That is crucial for the stability of our country of the UK, of Northern Ireland.” A White House spokesman stressed the need for talks to continue to resolve the issues.
“The best path forward is a pragmatic one that requires courage, cooperation, and leadership,” he added.
“We urge the parties to continue engaging in dialogue to resolve differences and bring negotiations to a successful conclusion.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson repeated his call on the government to take action.
“The sooner that happens, the better.
“The protocol is not supported by any unionist MLA elected to the Assembly last week.
“We can’t go on with the situation where there is no consensus at all for this protocol,” he told the BBC.
Ms Truss is expected to reiterate in a call with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic today the risk to the Good Friday Agreement and warn that the situation cannot drag on.