Image copyright Reuters The UK and EU are to hold emergency talks later as tensions rise over Boris Johnson’s move to override key parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove will meet EU official Maros Sefcovic in London to discuss how the development could affect the island of Ireland.
The EU says it wants “clarifications” on the implementation of the agreement.
Meanwhile, trade talks between the UK’s Brexit negotiator Lord Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier continue.
The source of the EU’s concern is Mr Johnson’s proposed Internal Market Bill, which was published on Wednesday.
It addresses the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol – an element of the withdrawal agreement designed to prevent a hard border returning to the island of Ireland.
The bill proposes no new checks on goods moving from Northern Ireland to the rest of Great Britain. It gives UK ministers powers to modify or “disapply” rules relating to the movement of goods that will come into force from 1 January, if the UK and EU are unable to strike a trade deal.
Mr Johnson defended the bill, saying it would “ensure the integrity of the UK internal market” and hand power to Scotland and Wales, while protecting the Northern Ireland peace process.
But critics say the move will damage the UK’s international reputation after a minister admitted the plans break international law.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was “very concerned” following the tabling of the bill in Parliament, and that such actions “undermine trust” with the EU.
The proposed bill has also sparked criticism within the UK.
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Former prime minister Sir John Major said: “For generations, Britain’s word – solemnly given – has been accepted by friend and foe. Our signature on any treaty or agreement has been sacrosanct.”
He added: “If we lose our reputation for honouring the promises we make, we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the government to consider “the reputational risk that it’s taking in the proposed way forward”.
Marcos Sefcovic has already spoken to Mr Gove by phone but said he has called this emergency meeting because he wants to hear in person precisely what the government’s intentions are.
Before leaving Brussels, Mr Sefcovic echoed other European leaders when he insisted the withdrawal agreement was not up for renegotiation.
He said he hoped Michael Gove would assure him that the letter, the spirit and the timetable of the agreement would be respected.
If not, there’s talk of Brussels possibly taking legal action.
The outcome of today’s meeting is also significant for the future of trade talks between the two sides.
The EU says it still wants a deal but that the UK respecting the withdrawal agreement is a prerequisite.
The meeting of the UK-EU Joint Committee, co-chaired by Mr Gove and Mr Sefcovic, comes after the Speaker of the US House of Representatives insisted there was “absolutely no chance” of a US-UK trade deal if the Northern Ireland peace process was jeopardised.
Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: “Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday Agreement, including the stability brought by the invisible and frictionless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.
“The UK must respect the Northern Ireland Protocol as signed with the EU to ensure the free flow of goods across the border.
“If the UK violates that international treaty and Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be absolutely no chance of a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress.”
Meanwhile, the chief negotiators from the UK and the EU, Lord Frost and Mr Barnier, will meet face-to-face later in separate talks to help break the deadlock on negotiations for a future trade deal.
This latest round of negotiations are due to conclude on Thursday, and the UK government has said it is prepared to walk away if progress is not made soon.
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