The European Commission does not accept that the United Kingdom will suspend certain goods controls between Northern Ireland and the mainland until October 1. The Commission speaks of a unilateral action that violates confidence and is launching a formal infringement procedure.
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Everything revolves around controls on goods traded from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. These controls in Northern Ireland’s ports are intended to prevent smuggling routes from emerging for products that would end up uncontrolled on European territory via the United Kingdom. In addition, harsh controls between Ireland and Northern Ireland are avoided, a vital prerequisite for the peace process.
However, the British government announced at the beginning of this month that customs controls can wait until October 1. They would normally start next month, after an earlier grace period ends at the end of this month. London fears empty supermarket shelves. In practice, this actually amounts to an extension of the transitional arrangement by the British.
The European Commission is therefore opening an infringement procedure. She sends the British government an official letter asking for clarification on Monday afternoon. That process could eventually lead to a procedure at the European Court of Justice, in which fines can be imposed. In addition, European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will inform the British charge d’affaires, ex-Brexit negotiator David Frost, in a ‘political letter’, it sounds in European circles.
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