Boris Johnson former Brexit negotiator David Frost says ‘weakness’ of Britain’s position influenced the course of negotiations for Northern Ireland protocol but blamed for lack of pragmatism in EU approach for in current difficulties.
Frost said the deal he negotiated is still in Johnson government would run smoothly only if it has never been fully implemented by the EU.
Writing in preface to a report by the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, he also challenged the Irish governmentfocus on an “all-island” economy, which he said had no consequences but became a political tool.
“As protocol due to the relative weakness of the UK and the dominance of the EU in negotiations on a withdrawal agreement, it enshrined the concept of an all-island economy – which the suits EU, Ireland and their allies politically, but which do not exist in real life,” Frost wrote. in foreword.
Boris Johnson is believed to be considering publishing a bill this week that would unilaterally repeal parts of of in protocol, one what caused the anger in Brussels and Dublin, against the backdrop of deadlock between the parties in Stormont.
Frost said that the application protocol should took into account”economy reality” of trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as reported says minimal. Only 4% of goods and services produced in Northern Ireland crosses the border with the Republic, with 16% going to the UK and 31% of imports to Northern Ireland from the rest of UK, the report said.
” protocol agreements could work only if in real life, EU regulatory framework has not been fully applied in practice (recognizing for for example, a protocol requirement to minimize checks and controls in the ports of Northern Ireland) and there were many more pragmatism in my job,” he wrote.
Sign up on First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7:00 am Moscow time.
“Be that as it may, the purism of the EU and its careless destructive behavior has undermined East-West ties with start and are now bringing the Belfast Agreement itself (Good Friday) to life. great danger”.
former Northern Ireland first minister Dave Trimble, who was the leader of Ulster Unionist party at that time of Good Friday agreement agreed that there had been a “destabilizing effectspeaking of the all-island economy.
Today the Irish government has another language in which island economy is an endlessly recurring theme, said Lord Trimble. “Irish government exacerbates union fears that there is some common island-wide economic momentum leading to political unity. It had a destabilizing effect effect”.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow international trade The secretary said, “Now is not the time for guilt game about works of in protocol. Need a pragmatist way forward.
“Chaos in conservative party should do not interfere with ministers walking around the table and carrying out painstaking work a solution needs to be found and the EU should attract in pragmatic spirit.
