THE European Union is “not too impressed” with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’s threat to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol if post-Brexit negotiations fail.
Joao Vale de Almeida, the bloc’s ambassador to the UK, said it is unhelpful to “keep agitating the issue” of triggering the mechanism that would override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
It comes as Truss is due to meet her EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic for their first face-to-face talks at Chevening House in Kent on Thursday.
READ MORE: Labour call for North Sea 'windfall tax' on profits to deal with energy price rises
Truss, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said she will suggest “constructive proposals” to Sefcovic, but added she was “willing” to invoke Article 16 if a deal cannot be struck.
The mechanism was put in place to prevent a hard land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party have welcomed Truss’s comments.
Vale de Almeida told Sky News’s Trevor Phillips on Sunday: “We’ve heard this before from the Government, so we’re not surprised. We are not too impressed.
“We still believe it’s not very helpful that we keep agitating the issue of Article 16. I think what we should focus on – at least that’s where we are focused on – is trying to find solutions for difficulties in the implementation of the protocol.”
Vale de Almeida, EU ambassador to the UK, left, and Maros Sefcovic, EU Brexit negotiator, right.
He called for “new momentum” in the talks, adding: “We are eager to reconnect but we are even more eager to find compromises because we need to move on. It’s been too long.”
The Foreign Secretary was handed responsibility for the negotiations after Lord Frost resigned as Brexit minister last month.
Truss said it is her “absolute priority” to resolve the “unintended consequences” created by the protocol to maintain peace in Northern Ireland.
She said: “When I see Maros Sefcovic this week for our first face-to-face talks, I’ll be putting forward our constructive proposals to resolve the situation.”
READ MORE: What did MSPs choose to focus on during the last term in Holyrood?
Truss argued the current issues are “myriad and manifest”, citing bureaucracy on sending parcels between Northern Ireland and Britain and problems in procuring kosher food.
She said: “I am prepared to work night and day to negotiate a solution.
“But let me be clear: I will not sign up to anything which sees the people of Northern Ireland unable to benefit from the same decisions on taxation and spending as the rest of the UK, or which still sees goods moving within our own country being subject to checks.
“My priority is to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland. I want a negotiated solution, but if we have to use legitimate provisions including Article 16, I am willing to do that.”
Last week, Sefcovic warned that “the foundation of the entire deal” brokered between the UK and the EU will be jeopardised if Truss takes the drastic step.
He told German newspaper Der Spiegel: “This is a very distracting element in the discussions. You try to achieve something together and – bam – there’s the threat of Article 16 again.
“It touches on the fundamentals of our relationship.
“The Northern Ireland Protocol was the most complicated part of the Brexit negotiations, and it is the foundation of the entire deal. Without the protocol, the whole system will collapse. We must prevent that at any cost.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon slams plan to axe free lateral flow tests in UK
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who has threatened to remove his ministers from the Stormont Executive if progress is not made on the protocol, welcomed Truss’s statement.
He tweeted: “She is right that unionists do not consent to the protocol and we need the Government to follow through on their commitment to safeguard the Union and protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK Internal Market.”
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie also welcomed Truss’s comments as a “way forward in dealing with trade issues with the EU”, but was critical of Donaldson’s threat to withdraw ministers from Stormont.
DUP leader Donaldson, right, backed Truss's comments
He said: “It is perfectly reasonable that goods from Great Britain which are destined to stay in Northern Ireland should not be subject to checks, and those goods destined for the EU market can be checked at our ports. We have already recommended legislation to make this workable as far back as 2019.
“It would go a long way to easing a difficult situation and should form the basis for constructive talks with Maros Sefcovic this coming week.
“Multiple engagements with businesses and business representative bodies see this as a pragmatic and sensible solution. Common sense is needed to de-escalate this issue.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel