Brexit rumbles on: EU launches legal action against UK
Letter alleging infringement of Northern Ireland protocol issued today.
A formal legal action by the EU against the UK has been launched, reports the Guardian, with the EU alleging that Boris Johnson has broken international law over the implementation of Brexit regulations in Northern Ireland.
This is the second time Brussels has launched legal proceedings against the UK government in six months and the case could end up in the European Court of Justice and lead to penalties and trade sanctions for Britain.
The formal notice of legal action was issued alongside a letter from the Vice President for the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič to the UK’s Brexit minister, David Frost. Mr. Šefčovič’s said: “Unilateral decisions and international law violations by the UK defeat its very purpose and undermine trust between us.”
The legal challenge follows the announcement by Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis, that the UK would be extending the grace period for checks on food until October. The UK announced last week that traders could continue to send goods of animal origin, food, and animal feed and plant products from Britain to NI without the need for health certificates.
