Tweet

Tony Connelly

3 Mar, 8 tweets, 2 min read

@simoncoveney

Full statement from @simoncoveney:

“At the EU-UK Joint Committee on 24 February, the UK reiterated its commitment to the proper implementation of the Protocol, as well as the implementation of all decisions taken in the Joint Committee in December 2020

2/ “The decision taken by the British Government today clearly undermines this commitment.

“A unilateral announcement is deeply unhelpful to building the relationship of trust and partnership that is central to the implementation of the Protocol.

3/ “I met earlier today with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis and with the Cabinet Office Minister now responsible for EU-UK relations, Lord Frost.

4/ “I made clear to them my regret that the UK had moved in a unilateral way, rather than working in continued partnership with the EU in accordance with the EU-UK joint statements of 11 and 24 February.

5/ “I am well aware of the practical challenges Brexit has caused for business and citizens in Northern Ireland and have strongly supported efforts to ensure that issues are addressed within the existing framework of the Protocol.

6/ “This includes in respect to modest extensions to grace periods being agreed between the UK and the EU in a spirit of partnership.

The Irish Govt’s focus remains on ensuring that the Protocol, as an international agreement concluded by the EU and UK, is fully implemented.

7/ “It is the agreed solution to the problems created on the island of Ireland by Brexit.

We will continue to deepen our engagement with stakeholders in Northern Ireland and welcome the strong commitment by the EU to do likewise.

8/ “It is vital that the current challenges are addressed in a spirit of cooperation and partnership and through the agreed mechanisms, so that Northern Ireland can benefit from the considerable positive opportunities created by the Protocol.”

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More from @tconnellyRTE

Tony Connelly

@tconnellyRTE

4 Mar

More fallout on the NI Protocol:

The European Parliament has postponed a decision on ratifying the EU UK free trade agreement in protest at the UK’s unilateral move on how the Northern Ireland Protocol should be implemented.

2/ The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) was concluded by the EU and UK on December 24, but it has only been applied provisionally because of a lack of time for both member states and the European Parliament to follow ratification procedures.

3/ The European Parliament was expected to finally ratify the treaty on March 24.

However, according to sources, senior officials in the parliament have decided to delay a decision on when to ratify the TCA.

Read 7 tweets

Tony Connelly

@tconnellyRTE

4 Mar

It looks like the European Commission will take legal action against the UK for it's unilateral move the NI Protocol.

So what are the options?

2/ The Commission could take a straightforward infringement procedure, as they did when the UK introduced the Internal Market Bill last September. This would mean a formal letter of notice, several weeks for the UK to reply, and it could end up in the ECJ, with fines etc

3/ How cd the UK be taken to the ECJ if they are out of the EU? Because the Protocol permits it. Article 12(4) spells out that when applying Articles 5 + 7-10 of the Protocol the "Court of Justice of the EU shall have the jurisdiction provided for in the Treaties in this
respect"

Read 8 tweets

Tony Connelly

@tconnellyRTE

3 Mar

@DavidGHFrost

UK govt spokesperson on @DavidGHFrost @MarosSefcovic phone call:

2/ “This was their first meeting since Lord Frost took up the role as Minister co-chairing the Partnership Council and the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee with the EU.

3/ “He underlined, as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had in his letter of 2 February, that progress still needed to be urgently made to address the direct and often disproportionate impact that aspects of the Protocol are having on the citizens of Northern Ireland...

Read 9 tweets

Tony Connelly

@tconnellyRTE

3 Mar

@MarosSefcovic

A reminder of how the two NI Protocol grace periods came about:

On Dec 8 @MarosSefcovic + @michaelgove reached a political agreement addressing "the outstanding issues" related to the implementation of the NI Protocol

2/ The agreement covered "Border Control Posts/Entry Points specifically for checks on animals, plants and derived products, export declarations, the supply of medicines, the supply of chilled meats, and other food products to supermarkets"

3/ The political agreement was formally adopted by the UK and EU member states on December 17.

Read 23 tweets

Tony Connelly

@tconnellyRTE

3 Mar

@rtenews

The UK will unilaterally extend the grace periods for food imports into Northern Ireland from Great Britain by six months, @rtenews understands

The move is outlined in written guidance to supermarkets and suppliers, seen by RTE News.

2/ A written statement is due to be presented later by the NI Secretary Brandon Lewis. This morning in the House of Commons Mr Lewis said the UK would introduce a series of “temporary operational steps” in relation to food imports under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

3/ Under an EU UK agreement in December, suppliers of agri-food products into NI were to be exempt from EU export health certificates for the first three months of this year, while the ban on sausages, mince and chilled meat preparations would be suspended for six mths

Read 21 tweets

Tony Connelly

@tconnellyRTE

1 Mar

@gordonlyons1

The European Commission has been reassured by the UK that checks + controls on GB imports at temporary Border Control Posts (BCPs) at NI ports will continue, and will not be affected by @gordonlyons1’s decision to cease work on the permanent facilities, acc to a spokesperson.

2/ “The relevant checks and controls are continuing to take place as usual,” said spokesperson Dan Ferrie.

However, the Commission said the UK was obliged to complete the permanent facilities at Northern Ireland’s ports by mid 2021.

3/ “We expect the same commitment when it comes to the UK’s obligations to the Protocol regarding the permanent facilities that need to be put in place by the middle of this year...in line with the Protocol + also in line with the Joint Committee decisions of Dec,” Me Ferrie said

Read 5 tweets

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