‘We have seen no move at all from the UK side’ Maroš Šefčovič

European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič expressed his disappointment today, that after the major concessions offered by the EU, the UK has not moved its position. The Commission appears to be in little doubt that the UK’s intent is to trigger Article 16 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol.

In an op-ed in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph over the weekend, Šefčovič raised his concerns about the UK government’s refusal to engage with the EU’s proposals and observed that the UK appeared to be set on a path of confrontation. This appears to be confirmed with little progress on the Commission’s far-reaching package aimed at addressing the problems experienced by Northern Irish businesses.  

Šefčovič said: “We hear a lot about Article 16 at the moment. Let there be no doubt that triggering Article 16 – to seek the renegotiation of the Protocol – would have serious consequences. Serious for Northern Ireland, as it would lead to instability and unpredictability. And serious also for EU-UK relations in general, as it would mean a rejection of EU efforts to find a consensual solution to the implementation of the Protocol.”

Discussions will continue next week and Šefčovič will return to London on 12 November. Up to now the Commission has not detailed the measures they would take if the UK did choose to trigger Article 16. The EU could take measures ranging from a retaliation on a range of UK exports, to increasing checks and maybe looking at other measures outside the trade and co-operation agreement such as the granting of equivalence, or they could consider the UK’s actions as meriting even more drastic action, such as a suspension of the trade and co-operation agreement which would be more drawn out. 

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