Brexit: Macron accused of 'xenophobic reaction' by Jersey fisherman
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With both sides now breaking for the summer recess, David Jones deputy chair of the European Research Group and MP for Clwyd West warned a compromise on the Northern Ireland Protocol must be reached by September. Amid the disruption to trade in Northern Ireland, Mr Jones said the UK “cannot go on” without changed to the Protocol. The UK extended the amnesty on chilled meats until October and if the EU does not agree to a compromise on the matter by then, Mr Jones claimed the UK may consider using Article 16 of the Brexit deal.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “I think they’ll have to make an assessment before the end of September.
“I think that’s something that’s really going to have to be arrived at early in September.
“But certainly, one would expect them to come back with something positive early in September.
“Otherwise, the Government will certainly have to make arrangements to notify businesses that their next step is going to be invoking Article 16.
“Because of course, businesses have to make their arrangements.
“They need to know where they stand. And of course, one of the problems is there has been a diversion of trade without doubt.”
On Wednesday, Lord Frost set out a new plan to make slight amendments to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
This included agreements on data sharing, a standstill period for checks and legal action and increased penalties for those moving products from Northern Ireland to Ireland.
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There are also plans to streamline trade at ports and airports.
After setting out the command paper, Boris Johnson held a call with Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President to discuss issues surrounding the Protocol.
The Prime Minister warned as it stands, the Protocol is unworkable and is causing damage to Northern Ireland.
A No10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister set out that the way the Protocol was currently operating was unsustainable.
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“He urged the EU to look at those proposals seriously and work with the UK on them.”
In response, Ms von der Leyen insisted the Protocol cannot be renegotiated.
She said: “The EU will continue to be creative and flexible within the Protocol framework. But we will not renegotiate.
“We must jointly ensure stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.”
Mr Johnson also informed Angela Merkel changes must be made to what is an unsustainable procedure.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “On the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Prime Minister said that the disruption being caused to people and businesses in Northern Ireland by the current operation of the Protocol was not sustainable.
“He explained that the Protocol was failing to deliver on many of its intended objectives: to minimise disruption to everyday lives, to respect Northern Ireland’s integral place in the UK’s internal market, and to preserve the delicate balance in the (Belfast) Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions.
“The Prime Minister underlined that solutions could not be found through the existing mechanisms of the Protocol and that was why we had set out proposals for significant changes to it.
“He urged the Chancellor and the EU collectively to engage in a constructive and detailed discussion on the UK’s proposals.”
If there is no resolution, either side can use Article 16 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement which allows either the UK or EU to take unilateral measures if serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties persist.
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