The legitimacy of the forthcoming unilateral amendments to the Protocol has been challenged by Europeans, citing a breach of international law by London.
London, Thanasis Gavos
It was approved by the British MPs, as expected, the controversial bill of the Johnson Government authorizing its unilateral amendment Northern Ireland Protocol complementing the Brexit agreement.
In the first vote in the House of Commons late Monday night, the bill was passed by 295 deputies against 221 against, despite strong criticism even from Conservative MPs, such as former Prime Minister Theresa May.
The bill is now expected to pass through accelerated procedures from the next stages of the legislative process to become state law within the year, as is the intention expressed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Yesterday’s “second reading” of the bill was opened by Foreign Minister Liz Trass telling lawmakers that the government’s proposal would resolve the problems created by the Protocol on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland, while protecting the Good Friday peace agreement.
He defended the unilateral nature of the British movement, arguing that the EU has ruled out logical changes in the Protocol. He stressed that the bill is “both legal and necessary.”
The legitimacy of the forthcoming unilateral amendments to the Protocol has, however, been questioned by Europeans, who violation of international law from London.
Among other things, the bill provides for the abolition of controls on products from Great Britain intended to remain in Northern Ireland and not to pass through the Republic of Ireland, ie within EU territory.
These controls at sea in Ireland were imposed by the Northern Ireland Protocol in question to prevent the re-establishment of hard borders on the island of Ireland. According to critics of the Protocol in London and Belfast, these controls undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom.
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