An important part of this agreement, which was signed last year, indicates that Northern Ireland would remain part of the European Union’s single market, thus avoiding the creation of a market barrier between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which would mean continued free movement between the European Union and Northern Ireland. An article published by Financial Times indicates that the United Kingdom is planning to approve the legislation, which would disregard this agreement and would earmark state allocations to the market, including Northern Ireland, also not creating the necessary border checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
This step by the United Kingdom would mean that goods could continue to freely move from Northern Ireland to the UK, which would mean that the UK would indirectly remain a part of the EU’s single market, disregarding existing market regulation. The disregard of this agreement would also mean that Northern Ireland could not remain in the EU’s single market and the shift of EU border controls to the Northern Irish-Irish border would exacerbate long time conflicts and would pose a threat to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Such a move by the United Kingdom would not only be in breach of international law. Still, it would also once again raise difficult questions related to the protection of the entire island’s economy and avoiding a “hard” border in Ireland. Furthermore, with ongoing negotiations on future relations, serious doubts are emerging over the reputation of the United Kingdom as a reliable partner.
Due to these reasons, member of the European Parliament J. Olekas signed under a letter (initiated by MEP Barry Andrews, Renew Europe, Ireland) addressed to European Commission Vice-President M. Šefčovič, chairman of the EU-UK Joint Committee. The letter requests for an explanation of how the European Commission would react to a potential breach of the withdrawal agreement and assurance that any deal on future relations would depend on whether the UK will comprehensively enact the withdrawal agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The letter reads:
Honoured European Commission Vice-President Šefčovič,
With great concern, we would like to draw your attention to a Financial Times (September 6) article, which indicates that in the coming days, the UK will table a piece of legislation on the internal market, which would mean the disregard of certain withdrawal agreement conditions and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland regarding state aid and customs procedures in Northern Ireland. This would not only be in breach of international law but would once again raise difficult questions related to protecting the entire island’s economy and avoiding a hard border in Ireland. Furthermore, with ongoing negotiations on future relations, serious doubts would arise over the reputation of the UK as a reliable partner.
The Commission has stated that the implementation of the withdrawal agreement and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland remains an essential condition of any future relations. Based on this, we ask:
- Has the Commission requested for any explanations over the UK’s intentions in tabling this law?
- What steps would the Commission take if it were found that the UK is in breach of its commitments based on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland?
- How will the Commission ensure that any potential agreement on future relations would depend on whether the withdrawal agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, is upheld comprehensively and correctly?
We await your response on this urgent question for Ireland and the EU with impatience.
