By Ben Kerrigan-
Plans for post-Brexit checks on some goods entering Northern Ireland have been suspended indefinitely by the UK after negotiations with the EU reached a stalemate.
The transition process into new trading arrangements and checks on the island of Ireland, had already been extended twice , before the present deadlock, which currently spells uncertainty for the UK-EU relationship. But EU officials say they are willing to explore all avenues in search of a solution.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
On Monday evening David Frost, who is leading negotiations with the EU about updating the contentious Northern Ireland protocol, revealed a fresh extension, placing no deadline for a solution. The announcement could lead to the doors to progress closed, or merely open to an indefinite time scale for answers to the present deadlock.
Currently, only light controls are being placed on exports of goods and services from Great Britain to Northern Ireland due to a grace period which had already been extended twice , before this announcement suspending talks indefinitely.
Among the goods and services exported, are sausages and other chilled meats, without which such products could be banned from entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Following a bitter row – dubbed a “sausage war” – over the issue earlier this year, both the EU and UK in June agreed to extend a grace period until the end of this month. That grace period will continue indefinitely. according to Lord Frost’s announcement.
The EU agreed with the move by saying they would not yet continue with legal action against the UK over the row, pausing a legal action it had begun.
In a written statement to parliament on Monday, Lord Frost said that technical talks between the EU and UK would “continue in order to determine whether a constructive process can be established for discussing and addressing the issues identified with the Protocol”.
“Following on from this, to provide space for potential further discussions, and to give certainty and stability to businesses while any such discussions proceed, the government will continue to operate the Protocol on the current basis,” he added.
“This includes the grace periods and easements currently in force.”
Lord Frost said that “reasonable notice” would be given “in the event that these arrangements were to change, to enable businesses and citizens to prepare”.
The EU had originally launched a legal action against the UK, after Britain unilaterally extended a grace period before the full implementation of post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland, but paused the legal action as part of an effort to find “durable solutions” to the row.
The European Commission’s decision to abandon the process “took note” of Lord Frost’s announcement, but warned that it would “not agree to a renegotiation of the Protocol”.
“The Commission continues to engage constructively with the UK, in the interest of all communities in Northern Ireland,” a statement said.
“Our approach to the Protocol is based on the achievement of stability, certainty and predictability in line with the objectives of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement and in order to protect the Single Market.
“In this way, businesses and citizens in Northern Ireland will reap the full benefits of the Protocol and, in particular, the access to the Single Market it provides.
“The Commission reserves its rights in respect of infringement proceedings.
“At present, the Commission is not moving to the next stage of the infringement procedure launched in March 2021, and is not opening any n
Further Discussions
In a written statement on Monday, Frost said that “to provide space for potential further discussions, and to give certainty and stability to businesses while any such discussions proceed, the government will continue to operate the protocol on the current basis”.
He added: “This includes the grace periods and easements currently in force … We will ensure that reasonable notice is provided in the event that these arrangements were to change, to enable businesses and citizens to prepare.”
Frost and the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, met over the weekend at a conference in Oxford where the issue was discussed. The Irish delegation at the conference are understood to have acknowledged that it would be impossible to agree new arrangements by 30 September and that an extension of the grace period was expected.
Frost urged the EU to take the UK’s proposals seriously and highlighted three areas in which he was seeking damages. The movement of goods into Northern Ireland, the standards for goods within the region, and the governance arrangements for that trade.
The movement of goods between the Uk and Northern Ireland in a post Brexit world, has been the subject of intense debate and dispute in Northern Ireland.
The indefinite suspension of talks on goods entering Northern Ireland means light controls placed on goods will continue until one of the parties raises a problem , which could spark the whole cycle of repeated tense talks.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar