London and Brussels announced, Tuesday, December 8, an agreement allowing the withdrawal of the controversial provisions of a British bill revising the Brexit treaty that angered the European Union (EU) in the midst of trade negotiations.
The bill on the internal market goes back, in assumed violation of international law, on provisions of the agreement governing the UK’s exit from the EU last January for the British province of Northern Ireland. These clauses are intended to avoid the return of a border with the Republic of Ireland, a safeguard considered essential to the maintenance of peace on the island. They had led to the launch of an infringement procedure by Brussels.
At the end of a meeting on Monday in Brussels, the British Minister Michael Gove, responsible for the coordination of government activity, and the Vice-President of the Commission, Maros Sefcovic, “Can now announce an agreement in principle on all subjects, in particular concerning the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland”, they indicate in a joint statement.
A concession made in Brussels?
The British government will therefore withdraw the controversial articles of its law which deprived Brussels of a right of scrutiny over certain specific provisions adopted for Northern Ireland concerning public aid and customs declarations to be completed for goods moving between the province. British and Great Britain, specifies the agreement. He will also withdraw a clause from another bill to be considered by MPs shortly concerning taxation in Northern Ireland.
On Twitter, Mr. Sefcovic welcomed this agreement: “This will allow [au traité de Brexit conclu en 2019] to be fully operational at 1er January. “
🇪🇺🇬🇧 Pleased to announce that thanks to hard work, @michaelgove and I have reached an agreement in principle on all… https://t.co/rKExX1XDUw
For London, the purpose of the bill was to defend in reaction the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom by ensuring the continuity of trade between Great Britain and the province of Northern Ireland. As trade talks stumble just over three weeks away from the final break with the EU on December 31, the move is akin to a concession made in Brussels, where British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due return Wednesday.
