This evening, as his contentious new proposal to override the Brexit deal with Brussels faces its first obstacle in the Parliament, Boris Johnson will host an awkwardly timed G7 BBQ with EU leaders.
As part of his ongoing international diplomatic journey, the Prime Minister will dine with Emmanuel Macron of France, Olaf Scholz of Germany, Ursula Von der Leyen of the EU, and others in Bavaria tonight.
Back in Westminster, MPs will vote on contentious new legislation that would give ministers the authority to disregard certain provisions of the post-Brexit agreement for Northern Ireland.
If the EU continues to refuse to significantly alter the terms of the agreement, the UK has stated that its unilateral approach is the only way to address problems that were “baked in” to the protocol.
However, the plan has drawn a ferocious response from the bloc, with new legal action against Britain being initiated last week.
Today, Mr. Johnson gave the impression that his proposal to essentially repeal portions of the Northern Ireland Protocol may be implemented “pretty quickly” and become law by the end of the year.
The Prime Minister stated that it is “amazing how little this topic is being discussed, certainly here” at the G7 summit in Germany, which is also being attended by senior members of the European Union, signaling he does not anticipate a significant diplomatic incident.
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We are attempting to correct the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement’s balance, which is something I believe is crucial for our nation.
“You have unnecessary commercial obstacles between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. You have one tradition, one group that believes that things truly aren’t operating in a way that they enjoy or understand.
All we are arguing is that doing rid of those won’t jeopardize the EU single market in any way.
When questioned about whether the measures could be implemented this year, he responded, “Yes, I think we could do it pretty quickly, Parliament willing.”
We remain optimistic, he added, adding that it would be “much better” if we could “gain some of the flexibility we need in our meetings with Maros Sefcovic,” the vice-president of the European Commission.
In order to protect the Good Friday Agreement, peace, and stability, Mr. Johnson’s administration has argued that the measures to remove checks on goods, animal, and plant products traveling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to rejoin the power-sharing executive because to unionist objections to the introduction of checks that they believe will drive a wedge deeper into the Irish Sea, leaving the region without a functioning administration.
If the UK moved through with the Bill, additional steps may be taken, according to Maros Sefcovic, vice president of the European Commission.
In the end, the conflict might result in tariffs, a trade war, or even the suspension of the entire Brexit agreement between the UK and EU.
The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, according to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, will “address the challenges” brought on by the post-Brexit arrangements in the area.
‘A negotiated solution has been and remains our desire, but the EU continues to rule out amending the Protocol itself – despite the fact that it is obviously leading to major problems in Northern Ireland – which means we are compelled to act,’ she said.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister visited Rwanda and downplayed worries about legal issues.
He declared, “We have a legal case against us for not having correct customs procedures, among other things.
He asserted that the reaction to the plans was more subdued than anticipated.
MPs will discuss the Bill’s guiding principles and determine if it can move forward for further consideration as it returns to Parliament for its second reading this afternoon.
The law, according to Ms. Truss, is the foundation for a long-lasting and workable solution that maintains the Good Friday Agreement, stays away from a hard border, protects the EU single market, and upholds the integrity of the UK.
She may encounter resistance from people who disagree with the decision, though.
In addition to announcing that his party will vote against the proposed laws at Westminster, Sir Keir Starmer stated that Labour would repeal them if it were in power.
We must keep all alternatives on the table, Mr. Sefcovic previously said while declining to rule out a trade war.
He bemoaned the “radio silence from London since February,” but he emphasized the EU’s preference for a negotiated resolution to the issues raised by the protocol.
Brandon Lewis, the secretary for Northern Ireland, said on Sunday that it was “absurd” for Europe to warn of a trade war with the UK while they still hadn’t properly imposed sanctions against Putin for invading Ukraine.
“What we’re talking about here is correcting some of the implementation flaws with the protocol that are really hurting Northern Ireland,” he said on Times Radio.
Joao Vale de Almeida, the ambassador of the EU to the UK, claimed that the government is likely traveling down “a road to nowhere.”
On Sunday, he discussed the Bill with Sky’s Sophy Ridge, saying, “We are not ignoring (what the UK has suggested), but we studied it very carefully and, to be absolutely honest, we think it is both illegal and impossible.”
The Government is starting a series of “organized interactions” with the business community in conjunction with the second reading to talk about and collect opinions on how the Bill should be implemented.
The first roundtable discussion will be held on Monday at the Foreign Office and will feature representatives from more than a dozen significant UK companies, including the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Asda, John Lewis, and the Dairy Council NI.