LONDON — Brussels and London should “move on” from last Friday’s row over vaccine export checks in Northern Ireland, the EU’s top diplomat in the U.K. said.
João Vale de Almeida’s comments come after Boris Johnson condemned the EU for triggering an emergency override provision in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in a bid to control vaccine exports, a move the British prime minister said had “undermined” the Northern Ireland protocol designed to preserve the Good Friday peace agreement.
Last Friday, the European Commission invoked Article 16 of the protocol, which could have led to checks on the island of Ireland, temporarily halting the special border arrangement thrashed out as part of the Brexit deal. The move led to outrage in Dublin, Belfast and London, prompting the Commission to reverse course that same night.
Vale de Almeida told Bloomberg: “Regarding the events of last Friday, I mean it was last Friday. Let’s move on from last Friday.”
He added: “I think the Article 16 story is basically over. There was an oversight, the oversight was corrected in three hours. We never triggered Article 16 of the protocol that has to do with Northern Ireland. And so I think we need to move on.”
U.K. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič will on Wednesday hold a virtual meeting with Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill in a bid to resolve ongoing problems at the Irish border, including threats to border staff and checks hitting trade.
Foster and senior Democratic Unionist Party colleagues will hold a separate call with Johnson this morning.
Vale de Almeida said relations between London and Brussels were likely to be “lively” and “intense” post-Brexit, but said that is “normal” given their geographical proximity and the changes brought about by Brexit.
The EU envoy acknowledged issues with the Northern Ireland protocol may need to be addressed, but insisted the best way to protect the Good Friday Agreement is to “fully implement the protocol” because “that guarantees there will be an open border” between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Want more analysis from POLITICO? POLITICO Pro is our premium intelligence service for professionals. From financial services to trade, technology, cybersecurity and more, Pro delivers real time intelligence, deep insight and breaking scoops you need to keep one step ahead. Email [email protected] to request a complimentary trial.
