Sunday 18th July 2021
Brexit apple of contention Northern Ireland
British supermarkets are writing fire letters
Great Britain is struggling with the bureaucratic hurdles caused by Brexit. Before a further deadline has expired, the supermarket bosses address the dispute over Northern Ireland to Brexit Minister Frost and the EU Commission. In a letter they warn of food shortages and price volatility.
UK supermarkets have warned of food shortages and higher prices in Northern Ireland over the dispute between London and the European Union. In a letter to British Brexit Minister David Frost and EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Sunday, they urged both sides to urgently find an agreement before a transition period expires at the end of September. This was announced by the British retail association BRC (British Retail Consortium).
The background to the dispute is the provision laid down in the Brexit agreement that Northern Ireland will continue to follow the rules of the EU internal market. This is to prevent goods controls between the British province and the EU member Republic of Ireland. Otherwise the conflict in the former civil war region is expected to flare up again. The majority Catholic supporters of union with Ireland insist on an open border with the neighbor.
Looking for a long-term solution
But the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol makes trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK difficult. This is also causing tension, especially among the predominantly Protestant supporters of the Union with Great Britain.
Brussels accuses the UK government of not properly implementing the protocol. London, on the other hand, accuses the EU Commission of interpreting the agreement too petty. Both sides had recently been able to prevent a last-minute escalation in a dispute over chilled meat products by extending the deadline for the agreed regulations to come into force.
But now a long-term solution has to be worked on, demanded the supermarket bosses. This could, for example, consist in an agreement on the rules for animal health and food safety or in an agreement on reduced controls for trustworthy traders, it said in the communication.
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