Brussels Reporter
  • Home
  • Brussels
  • Europe
    • Europe

      COVID: World’s poorest will take over 10 years…

      January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

      Europe

      The Swiss art of automata now part of…

      January 24, 2021January 24, 2021

      Europe

      Coronavirus: Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with Israeli police to…

      January 24, 2021January 25, 2021

      Europe

      Estonia to get new government, first female PM

      January 24, 2021

      Europe

      New Zealand records first COVID case outside of…

      January 24, 2021January 24, 2021

  • Globe
  • Lifestyle
  • Business

Brussels Reporter

  • Home
  • Brussels
  • Europe
    • Europe

      COVID: World’s poorest will take over 10 years…

      January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

      Europe

      The Swiss art of automata now part of…

      January 24, 2021January 24, 2021

      Europe

      Coronavirus: Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with Israeli police to…

      January 24, 2021January 25, 2021

      Europe

      Estonia to get new government, first female PM

      January 24, 2021

      Europe

      New Zealand records first COVID case outside of…

      January 24, 2021January 24, 2021

  • Globe
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
Home Europe UK to drop plan to breach international law
EuropeFeatured

UK to drop plan to breach international law

by editor December 8, 2020
December 8, 2020

LONDON — The U.K. government will drop proposed laws that the EU had warned would undermine last year’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and poisoned the atmosphere around trade talks, ministers announced Tuesday.

In simultaneous statements posted on Twitter, U.K. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and his European Commission counterpart Maroš Šefčovič said “agreement in principle” had been reached on all issues being worked on by the Joint Committee, which oversees the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.

In a further joint statement, the two sides said the “mutually agreed solutions” meant the U.K. could withdraw controversial clauses from its Internal Market Bill, as well as “similar provisions” planned for the upcoming Taxation Bill.

Ministers had previously admitted the clauses, affecting the rules of trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. after Brexit, would break international law by undercutting what was agreed with the EU as part of the Northern Ireland protocol element of last year’s Brexit divorce deal. The U.K.’s proposals drew widespread criticism, including from Joe Biden.

The successful conclusion of the joint committee discussions, while separate from the wider Brexit negotiation on a future relationship and trade agreement, will be seen as a positive step in Brussels, where the proposed U.K. laws were viewed as a breach of good faith when they were announced earlier this year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney welcomed the resolution.

“I very much welcome the positive news announced today that agreement in principle has been reached on the outstanding issues on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland,” he said. “I hope this may also provide some of the positive momentum necessary to instil confidence and trust and allow progress in the wider context of the future relationship negotiations.”  

The joint statement listed the technical areas where agreement in principle had been found, including: rules surrounding border control posts and entry points, “specifically for checks on animals, plants and derived products;” export declarations; supply of medicines, chilled meats, and other food products; and clarification on the use of state aid under the terms of the protocol.

Agreement had also been reached, the statement said, on “practical arrangements regarding the EU’s presence in Northern Ireland when U.K. authorities implement checks and controls under the protocol;” the criteria for goods to be considered “not at risk” of entering the EU when moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; plus an exemption for agricultural and fish subsidies from state aid rules.

Aodhán Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland retail consortium, said in a statement the news was “very welcome and is hugely positive.” But he added businesses in Northern Ireland would need technical details as soon as possible. “We still need the conclusion of a free trade agreement to remove customs frictions and with three weeks left to go we still will need an implementation period to allow us to comply with the new requirements,” he added.

The U.K. and the EU had also agreed on the list of chairpersons for an arbitration panel, as part of the dispute settlement mechanism envisioned in last year’s Brexit deal.

A further meeting of the joint committee is expected to take place before the end of the year to allow both sides to formally adopt the agreement.

Want more analysis from POLITICO? POLITICO Pro is our premium intelligence service for professionals. From financial services to trade, technology, cybersecurity and more, Pro delivers real time intelligence, deep insight and breaking scoops you need to keep one step ahead. Email [email protected] to request a complimentary trial.

Source link

previous post
Parkour community ‘happy’ sport not to be included in Olympics
next post
A ‘normal man’: John Lennon expert on the man behind the legend

Related Posts

US, Greece call for peaceful solution in East...

September 28, 2020

Biden criticises pace of US coronavirus vaccine rollout

December 29, 2020

EU holds urgent talks on Greece-Turkey energy dispute

August 14, 2020

Charles Michel goes multi-speed to get Europe ahead...

December 14, 2019

Donald Trump cheered by supporters as he heads...

November 23, 2020

Belarus opposition leader tells MEPs her country has...

August 25, 2020

George Floyd killing: Violence and fury hit US...

May 31, 2020

Kanye West says he’s running for US president

July 5, 2020

US using Hong Kong ‘as a pawn’ claims...

August 20, 2020

Murder of Paweł Adamowicz: The roots of the...

January 21, 2019
Promotion Image

Recent Posts

  • COVID: World’s poorest will take over 10 years to recover financially from pandemic: Oxfam report
  • Sikkim: Chinese and Indian troops ‘in new border clash’
  • Heatwave sweeps Australian cities and raises bushfire danger
  • Russia Navalny protests: Kremlin hits out at West as it downplays rallies
  • The Swiss art of automata now part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage
Promotion Image

GO!

Lifestyle

  • Scientists are using satellites to count elephants from space for the first time

  • France: Hospital workers demand more resources to fight COVID-19

  • Alexei Navalny: Millions watch jailed critic's 'Putin palace' film

  • Covid vaccine: WHO warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’

  • Belgium looks good in white

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Beware of scammING. Dirty money of famous bank

    October 6, 2020
  • 2

    Norway: No link established after post-COVID-19 vaccination deaths, says health authority

    January 18, 2021
  • 3

    Biden inauguration: Fireworks light up Washington DC sky as Hollywood A-list turns out to celebrate

    January 21, 2021

Editor’s Choices

  • European Parliament will set up vaccination centers for MEPs, staff and locals

    January 21, 2021
  • Why ‘equal access’ to coronavirus vaccines is failing poor countries

    January 20, 2021
  • Merkel era may only just be beginning

    January 16, 2021

Opinions

  • Estonia to get new government, first female PM

    January 24, 2021
  • Russian police arrest over 1,300 at pro-Navalny protests

    January 23, 2021
  • Belgium clamps down on cross-border travel

    January 22, 2021

@2018-2021 - Brussels Reporter (www.brusselsreporter.com). All Right Reserved.