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EU launches legal case against UK over Internal Market Bill

Published 01/10/2020, 10:35
Updated 01/10/2020, 11:00
© Reuters. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European commissioners Schinas and Johansson brief the press after the college of EU commissioners

© Reuters. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European commissioners Schinas and Johansson brief the press after the college of EU commissioners

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Thursday launched legal action against Britain's new Internal Market Bill on the grounds that it undercuts London's earlier legal commitments under its Brexit divorce treaty, the head of the bloc's executive said.

Such so-called infringements could lead to hefty fines being imposed by the EU's top court but that takes years, leaving plenty of time for the UK to change tack.

London now has one month now to reply to a formal letter of complaint from the Commission, which will then assess whether the answer is satisfactory and can then request that the UK falls back in line. If that fails, it can sue at the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice.

The move comes as British and EU negotiators struggle to close the gap on state aid in parallel trade negotiations that have been overshadowed by the new controversy over the Internal Market Bill.

Responding to the EU's legal case, Britain said it had "clearly set out reasons" to change its Brexit treaty provisions on the sensitive Irish border under the new Internal Market Bill.

"We need to create a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK's internal market, ensure ministers can always deliver on their obligations to Northern Ireland and protect the gains from the peace process," a British government spokesman said.

© Reuters. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European commissioners Schinas and Johansson brief the press after the college of EU commissioners

 

Latest comments

The EU can't force the UK to pay any fines
should be interesting since we will no longer be accountable to the EU courts
It appears rhe UK does not intend to be accountable to any court!...Nor to the UN where the decolonisation of the Chagos islands is still pending ( the UK forcibly removed the entire population of Chagos islands and kept these Indian Ocean territories which were part of Mairitius in order to lease it out to the USA for their Diego Garcia Military base )
apparently there are 800 infractions currently going through the courts, with Germany one of the top offenders. I think it's more a case of the EU being totally useless at management.
seems to appear that the integrity of the EU single market is more important than the UK's. Until they treat the WHOLE of the UK as one entity, rather than use NI as a bargaining chip then it's going to be difficult to come to a solution.
what do you not understand about the United Kingdom? The UK is the union of four kindoms (as the name implies) and it is therefore not a Country just like the EU is not a country. So tour remark seems ill-informed. The EU is in fact respecting the republic of Ireland and the Kingdom of Northern Ireland and trying to ensure civil war and terrorism doesnt return to the region. Matbe you need to be less emotional aboit this and understand that a negotiation is just that and that neither the UK pr the EU owe one another a deal , it needs to be negotiated. And implying disrespect is unhelpful and not not a particularly intelligent approach.
Erm - it’s Brexit that has changed border issues. It’s what you voted for...
factually incorrect. Look at wikipedia.
So it was OK for Barnier to poo poo every UK solution to the Irish border problem and to drag their heels over negotiations...they don't like it st uff it up 'em Mr Mannering. Barnier has dragged his heels too far this time
Bollox to Barnier and sod the EU. Bullies.
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