Ireland warns EU could ditch entire Brexit deal if Johnson triggers Article 16
Ireland warns the European Union could abandon the entire Brexit agreement with the United Kingdom if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ditches his agreement on Northern Ireland.
The UK has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16, which allows either side to take unilateral action if they deem the deal governing post-Brexit trade is badly impacting their interests.
Speaking on Sunday, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said any move to activate emergency measures under Article 16 and suspend the protocol would have “serious” consequences.
"All the evidence now suggests that the British government are laying the foundations to trigger Article 16, and that of course is a worry," Coveney said in an interview broadcast on RTE radio on Sunday.
Continuation of the UK-EU free trade agreement relies on the Northern Ireland deal continuing to operate, he said.
Suspending the agreement would have a negative impact on British businesses as they would face new tariffs and even worse terms than they have now outside the single market.
“I believe that if the British government essentially refuses to implement the protocol, even with the extraordinary flexibilities that are now on offer, and instead looks to set it aside then I think the EU will respond in a very serious way to that,” said Coveney.
“It means that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement that was agreed between the British government and the EU was contingent on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, which includes the protocol.
“One is contingent on the other. So if one is being set aside, there is a danger that the other will also be set aside by the EU.”
ME
