UK's chief negotiator David Frost made the comments after his EU counterpart said the bloc was able to act “firmly and resolutely” if the united kingdom fails to honor its commitments under the divorce agreement.
The UK's chief negotiator called on the ecu Union to point out “pragmatism and customary sense,” rather than threatening to retaliate, because the two sides meet to resolve differences over the deal that was alleged to keep trade flowing after Brexit.
David Frost made the comments after his EU counterpart said the bloc was able to act “firmly and resolutely” if the united kingdom fails to honor its commitments under the divorce agreement. the 2 men are scheduled to satisfy Wednesday in London amid rising tensions over implementation of the deal in Northern Ireland , the sole a part of the united kingdom that shares a land border with the bloc.
Central to the talks are provisions of the deal that effectively created a customs border between Northern Ireland and therefore the remainder of the united kingdom , angering many pro-British residents of the island. While Britain has involved compromise, the EU says the new rules are needed to guard the bloc's single market.
Both sides fear the tensions could fuel a return to violence in Northern Ireland .
“Further threats of action and trade retaliation from the EU won't make life any easier for the consumer in Strabane who can't buy their favorite product,” Frost said, pertaining to a town in Northern Ireland . “What is required is pragmatism and customary sense solutions to resolve the problems as they're before us. This work is vital , and it's ever more urgent.”
The divorce deal, which took effect on Jan. 1, included variety of grace periods that gave Britain time to place in situ new systems to see a spread of products coming into Northern Ireland to make sure they suits EU rules. Those grace periods are now ending, causing headaches for businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland .
The UK angered Brussels earlier this year when it unilaterally extended the grace period covering many supermarket items, delaying the specified inspections for 6 months. The EU has threatened action over that call .
The Daily Telegraph, a British newspaper, reported Tuesday that the united kingdom can also extend the grace period covering chilled meats like sausages and hamburger , which is scheduled to finish at the top of this month.
Maros Sefcovic, the EU's chief negotiator, cautioned against such action, saying the 2 sides should strive to realize “mutually agreed compliance paths.”
“If this doesn't happen, and if the united kingdom takes further unilateral action over the approaching weeks, the EU won't be shy in reacting swiftly, firmly and resolutely to make sure that the united kingdom abides by its law of nations obligations,” Sefcovic wrote Tuesday within the Telegraph.
While Sefcovic didn't specify what those actions could be , the days of London quoted an unidentified EU official as saying the bloc was able to impose trade sanctions and retaliatory tariffs.
Sefcovic described the so-called Northern Ireland protocol as a chance which will give the region access to quite 500 million customers in both the united kingdom and European Union .
But Frost said compromise is required to form this a reality. the united kingdom has sent 10 papers to the EU offering solutions to several of the problems that divide the 2 sides, but has received no written responses from the bloc, he said.
“When I meet Maros Sefcovic later today my message are going to be clear: time is brief and practical solutions are needed now to form the Protocol work,” Frost said.
Britain accused the EU of taking an unnecessarily “purist approach” to the new rules.
“There's no case whatsoever for preventing chilled meats from being sold in Northern Ireland ,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman, Max Blain. “We are working very hard to undertake and resolve these issues consensually,”
“Time is beginning to run out and solutions are urgently needed,” he added.
