–
–
Britain’s chief negotiator, David Frost PHOTO: Reuters
–
The United Kingdom has given the European Union a new deadline of two weeks to agree to a change to the Northern Ireland Protocol or otherwise risk provoking unilateral action by London, reports the British daily The Independent.
A new “approach” will be set out this month if negotiations fail to break through, Boris Johnson’s cabinet ministers said, warning that a “truce” for chilled meat and medicine has failed to resolve the protocol’s crisis.
The trade frontier created in the Irish Sea has been described as “one of the problems”. Brandon Lewis, the Minister for Northern Ireland, accused Brussels of “irreconcilability” in the ongoing talks and of “misunderstanding the sensitivity” of the issue in the country. Brexit’s David Frost has revealed that the new “approach” will be announced before lawmakers leave Westminster for their summer break on July 22, FOCUS reported.
“We believe this is essential to determine how we will proceed for the rest of this year,” he said at an event hosted by the Policy Exchange think tank. But he was accused of “deep dishonesty” for signing the protocol, although it was clear that “hard” Brexit would create serious problems. The new threat will fuel the EU’s fear that the UK is determined to break the legal agreement.
Last week, Brussels agreed to London’s request for a three-month postponement of the ban on chilled meat – as well as simpler rules for transporting medicines and guide dogs to Northern Ireland and for drivers to move to the UK.
According to the EU, the longer grace period should be used to persuade retailers to receive meat from the Republic of Ireland, as agreed in the protocol. “We are considering our next steps, we are discussing with all those who are interested, and I can say today that we will carefully present our approach to parliament on these issues before the summer break.”
– .
