Article 16 Drags UK and EU to Brinkmanship

Relations between the UK and EU have been tattered due to the brinkmanship over the British threats to trigger an emergency clause known as Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

European Commission’s Maros Sefcovic said the EU will consider all tools at its disposal if the UK Government triggers Article 16. ‘If the British Government suspends the Northern Ireland Protocol, it will have “serious consequences” for the region and Brussels’ relationship with the UK”, Sefcovic pointed out.

On the more positive side, Sefcovic said, ”Last Friday, I held my fourth weekly meeting with David Frost on the EU package of solutions”. He also acknowledged and welcomed the change in tone of this discussion compared to previous ones. After weeks of intensified discussions, the EU needs the UK to reciprocate the big move the EU has made.

The EU has taken big steps to find solutions and to provide solutions to concrete problems faced by Northern Irish people and businesses on the ground as a consequence of the Brexit chosen by the UK.