On the evening of Monday 10 October, the European Parliament’s Committees on International Trade (INTA), Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) adopted by a large majority (75 votes in favour, 6 against and 0 abstentions) a draft joint report on the exercise of the European Union’s rights to implement and enforce the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Drawn up by Andreas Schieder (S&D, Austrian), Seán Kelly (EPP, Irish), Danuta Maria Hübner (EPP, Polish), the report essentially aims to authorise the European Commission to initiate unilateral measures, notably in the field of trade relations, if London were to fail to meet its commitments.
In March, the Commission presented a draft regulation allowing it to take unilateral retaliatory measures under the withdrawal and trade agreements signed with the UK if the latter reneges on its commitments (see EUROPE 12909/28).
The Council of the EU endorsed this proposal on 21 June.
On Monday, MEPs gave the green light to a sanction mechanism decided by the Commission, which could include the reimposition of quotas or customs duties.
It goes without saying that we would certainly prefer that trade enforcement mechanisms were not necessary. However, with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, the UK government has shown its willingness to break international law. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the EU can protect itself. From an Irish perspective, this regulation is also essential to protect the economy of the whole of Ireland, said Sean Kelly in a statement ahead of the vote.
Although there have been some very positive signals from the UK recently, with the resumption of technical discussions on the Northern Ireland protocol, the EU has a responsibility to protect the single market, commented his colleague Christophe Hansen (Luxembourgish).
The adopted report provides for the Commission to inform the European Parliament of all its ‘retaliatory’ actions, with additional parliamentary scrutiny to ensure that any action taken in response to violations is proportionate.
The European Parliament will vote on the report during the plenary at the end of November.
The Commission and the UK held technical talks last week, including on the Northern Ireland Protocol, and are continuing them this week. Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič is expected to hold further talks with his counterpart, James Cleverly, in the coming days, according to the Commission.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/3j6 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)