BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – Most of Britain’s demands for easier trade with Northern Ireland were rejected by the European bloc on Wednesday, adding that it was examining more flexibility on steel.
European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said in a letter to Cabinet Minister Michael Gove the EU executive arm was “examining possible amendments” to make steel imports into Northern Ireland from Britain count against the tariffs quota given by the bloc.
But the bloc rejected calls for more time until January 1, 2023, for supermarkets in the province and their suppliers to adjust to the new customs border on the Irish Sea for merchandise shipped to the province and they include frozen meat, parcels and medicines.
The customs border between the two nations was formed as part of the pact on Britain’s exit from the bloc so as to prevent the creation of a hard border between the province and the rest of the Irish Republic.
“As regards additional flexibilities concerning the application of Union law applicable in Northern Ireland with regard to meat products, export health certificates and parcel and express services I would like to recall that blanket derogations … cannot be agreed beyond what the Protocol foresees already,” Sefcovic wrote.
He is slated to meet Gove on Thursday in London for more discussions.
On February 3, he sought the removal of barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland and the movement of seed potatoes and other plants and its products. However, the EU rejected that as well.
“As regards the issue of pet travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of movements of seed potatoes and other plants and plant products, any flexibility would entail the United Kingdom committing to align with the relevant EU rules,” Sefcovic said.
