European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said “it was time to get Brexit” as he threw the last salvo against the Boris Johnson government by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Sefcovic told a hearing in London that UK legislation designed to break parts of the protocol, which regulates Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade agreements, would simply “not work”.
He also warned that the “shadow cast” by the dispute would make Brussels more vigilant in continuing to allow British companies access to financial services, data and certain food markets.
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Ending so-called “mutual recognition” of regulations in these sectors could become a possibility as a result of changing its standards in the UK, Sefcovic said, adding that Brussels “will follow closely the development”.
The protocol was devised to prevent the return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
But one consequence is that goods exported to Northern Ireland from Britain are subject to customs controls, outraging unionists who refuse to share power until that changes.
The UK has rejected EU proposals to resolve the impasse.
Brussels says this would reduce controls on certain goods by 80%, halve customs procedures and allow the movement of certain goods that would otherwise be restricted, such as sausages.
Sefcovic said Brexit has increased bureaucracy and hurt companies on both sides of the Channel, but that the EU now wants to move from that “to a truly strategic partnership between the EU and the UK”.
He accused Britain of taking a “my way or the highway” approach.
“In fact, we are in a difficult situation, which will certainly not go away,” he added.
“You may not often hear it from a European commissioner, but it’s time we ended Brexit.”
Mr Sefcovic’s comments echoed Boris Johnson’s 2019 election promise.
They came during a speech at the London headquarters of data and financial news provider Bloomberg, where in 2013 David Cameron had announced his intention to hold a referendum on EU membership.
Sefcovic said the EU “has its limits” in what it can offer and must protect the integrity of the single market. He said it was unrealistic and unfair for the UK to expect “all barriers to be lifted when goods are moved to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK”.
“Post-Brexit, the pre-Brexit reality is no longer an option,” Sefcovic added.
He said that for the UK “changing the game unilaterally and deciding what enters the EU single market” means “a clear violation of international law”.
Sefcovic said the UK’s plan to repeal the protocol “would lead to constant uncertainty”.
“London ministers would be free to change the rules on a whim.
“A dual regulatory regime, where companies opt for EU or UK regulations, would bury them under a mountain of bureaucracy.”
Sefcovic insisted that, with stability and legal certainty over the protocol agreements, Northern Ireland could enjoy “jam on both sides of the bread” thanks to its unique position, making it a magnet for investment.
The speech comes days after the prime minister’s plan to repeal the protocol overcame his first hurdle in the Commons despite fierce criticism led by former Prime Minister Theresa May.
Earlier this month, Sefcovic responded to the publication of the bill by restarting legal action against the UK for allegedly violating the EU withdrawal treaty, as well as launching two new legal infringement actions.