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The EC won the support of EU member states this week, and member states were informed that the proceedings could start as early as next week, one source revealed.
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The EC is angry at London’s decision to unilaterally extend the grace period for the control of foodstuffs transported from the rest of Great Britain to Northern Ireland by six months until 1 October.
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Brussels considers that by taking this step, Britain has violated the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol, which complements the Brexit Agreement, and has promised to respond to it.
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The purpose of this protocol is to protect the Good Friday Peace Treaty of 1998, which put an end to 30 years of inter-communal violence in Northern Ireland, and to prevent the reintroduction of border controls at the Irish-Northern Irish border.
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Sources in the EU say the EC will first send a letter to London with a letter of formal notice violating the protocol. This will be the first step in a procedure which, after a lengthy process, may lead to a case before an EU court, which in turn may be fined.
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The EC is also expected to activate the dispute settlement mechanism and will initially call for a settlement of the dispute through the Joint Committee responsible for the proper implementation of the withdrawal agreements. If this fails, the EC may request that the case be referred to an arbitration panel.
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