Saudi deputy FM meets Sudan's Sovereign Council chief in Port Sudan    Kuwait, India to elevate bilateral relations to strategic partnership Sheikh Mishal awards Mubarak Al-Kabir Medal to Modi    MoH to penalize 5 health practitioners for professional violations    Al-Samaani: Saudi Arabia to work soon on a comprehensive review of the legal system    Environment minister inaugurates Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal    Germany's attack suspect reportedly offered reward to target Saudi ambassador    U.S. Navy jet shot down in 'friendly fire' incident over Red Sea    Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 20 people, including five children    Trudeau's leadership under threat as NDP withdraws support, no-confidence vote looms    Arabian Gulf Cup begins with dramatic draws and a breathtaking ceremony in Kuwait    GACA report: 928 complaints filed by passengers against airlines in November    Riyadh Season 5 draws record number of over 12 million visitors    Fury vs. Usyk: Anticipation builds ahead of Riyadh's boxing showdown    Saudi Arabia to compete in 2025 and 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments    Marianne Jean-Baptiste on Oscars buzz for playing 'difficult' woman    PDC collaboration with MEDLOG Saudi to introduce new cold storage facilities in King Abdullah Port Investment of SR300 million to enhance logistics capabilities in Saudi Arabia    Al Shabab announces departure of coach Vítor Pereira    My kids saw my pain on set, says Angelina Jolie    Legendary Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain dies at 73    Eminem sets Riyadh ablaze with unforgettable debut at MDLBEAST Soundstorm    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU warns no renegotiation possible as UK delays border checks again
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 09 - 2021

Britain announced on Monday that it is once again postponing the implementation of border checks on goods traveling to Northern Ireland.
Brexit Minister David Frost said the government would continue to trade "on the current basis," maintaining grace periods that the UK gave itself after splitting from the EU's economic embrace at the end of 2020. He did not set a new end date for the grace periods.
Frost said the standstill would "provide space for potential further discussions" with the EU over the two sides' deep differences on the Brexit divorce agreement.
London and Brussels have been at loggerheads over the Northern Ireland Protocol since the UK's divorce from the bloc came into force on Jan. 1, 2021.
The British province remains within the EU's customs unions, meaning that checks must be carried out on certain goods traveling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
British authorities — including Prime Minister Boris, who renegotiated the Withdrawal Agreement after taking over from Theresa May in Downing Street — now lambastes the arrangement as absurd as it effectively creates a border in the Irish Sea. They have asked for a "total overhaul" of the agreement.
The Northern Ireland Protocol is stuck in a stalemate. What could be the options for unlocking it?
The EU, which operates zero tariffs between member states, argues the checks are necessary to safeguard its single market, remains steadfast that no physical border be erected between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland over concerns that it could lead to a flare-up in sectarian violence.
But it has granted a "grace period" over the implementation of the protocol and agreed to extensions. A grace period on the exports of chilled meats between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is to expire on Sept. 30.
London has in the past said it wanted the current arrangements to last until 2021 which Brussels has refused, even launching legal proceedings against the UK over the protocol before halting them in July in order to "find durable solutions".
The European Commission said on Monday evening that they "take note" of the latest UK statement, flagging that "we will not agree to a renegotiation of the Protocol."
"We continue to stress that the Withdrawal Agreement is an international agreement. The Protocol is an integral part of the Withdrawal Agreement and the agreed solution between the UK and the EU to the problems caused by Brexit for the island of Ireland. Both sides are legally bound to fulfill their obligations under the Agreement," the statement from the Commission added.
Brussels also said that it "reserves its rights in respect to infringement proceedings" but that it is not, "at present", moving forward with the next stage of the proceedings it halted in July or opening any new infringements.
Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he expected the EU would agree to an extension of the grace periods in order to allow for "deep and meaningful" talks with Britain. —Euronews


Clic here to read the story from its source.