The European Commission and the UK government held another meeting of the Northern Ireland Committee on Friday 26 March to try to find solutions to the problems of implementing the Protocol, they said in a statement.
While the Commission has launched an infringement proceeding against London over the unilateral extension of grace periods, allowing temporary relief from controls on goods (see EUROPE 12678/1), it said it expects the UK government to provide “a roadmap in the coming days”.
“The EU is ready to find quick and pragmatic solutions within the framework of the Protocol and on the basis of a common list of outstanding issues. To do so, the UK must provide a credible roadmap, with clear outcomes and milestones, for the implementation of relevant rules and requirements of the Protocol for which implementation is deficient or delayed”, says the Commission, referring to requests identified in mid-December.
Regarding the legal action against the UK “for breach of the substantive provisions of the Protocol as well as the obligation of good faith under the Withdrawal Agreement”, the Commission called on the UK government to “confirm that the common objective is to ensure full compliance with the Protocol” and to respond “in a timely manner to the letter” of formal notice, i.e. by 15 April.
Dominic Raab in Gibraltar
The British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, was also due to travel to Gibraltar on 29 March to discuss future cooperation between the British peninsula and the rest of the EU.
The Withdrawal Agreement provides a Protocol for close cooperation between Spain and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar as regards the implementation of the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement relating to citizens’ rights. In addition, an agreement was reached for Gibraltar to remain in Schengen.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement does not cover Gibraltar. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)