Liz Truss threatening ‘unimpressed’ EU with Article 16 ahead of key talks

Liz Truss admits UK government money still flowing into Russia

Liz Truss admits UK government money still flowing into Russia

The EU is “not too impressed” with the new Foreign Secretary Liz Truss as she threatens to override parts of the post-Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland should key talks this week not go her way. The bloc’s ambassador to the UK said the threats of triggering Article 16 are “unhelpful” and “agitating”, ahead of discussions due to take place this week.
Liz Truss has said she will be putting forward “constructive proposals” to her EU counterpart, Maros Sefcovic, during the pair’s first face-to-face talks on Thursday 13 January. But she has also warned if the talks break down, she is “willing” to invoke Article 16, which would suspend parts of the treaty designed to prevent a hard border with the Republic.
Mr Vale de Almeida told Sky News: “We’ve heard this before from the Government, so we’re not surprised. We are not too impressed. We still believe it’s not very helpful that we keep agitating the issue of Article 16. I think what we should focus on – at least that’s where we are focused on – is trying to find solutions for difficulties in the implementation of the protocol.”
He called for ‘new momentum’ in the talks, adding: “We are eager to reconnect but we are even more eager to find compromises because we need to move on. It’s been too long.”
The new Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, was handed the role and responsibility for the negotiations with the EU after Lord Frost resigned as Brexit Minister last month. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Ms Truss said it is her ‘absolute priority’ to resolve the ‘unintended consequences’ created by the protocol to maintain peace in Northern Ireland.
“When I see Maros Sefcovic this week for our first face-to-face talks, I’ll be putting forward our constructive proposals to resolve the situation,” she wrote.
She added the current issues are ‘myriad and manifest’ amid bureaucracy on sending parcels between Northern Ireland and Britain.
“I am prepared to work night and day to negotiate a solution,” Ms Truss said.
“But let me be clear: I will not sign up to anything which sees the people of Northern Ireland unable to benefit from the same decisions on taxation and spending as the rest of the UK, or which still sees goods moving within our own country being subject to checks. My priority is to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland. I want a negotiated solution, but if we have to use legitimate provisions including Article 16, I am willing to do that.”
Last week, Mr Sefcovic warned ‘the foundation of the entire deal’ brokered between the UK and the EU will be jeopardised if Ms Truss takes the drastic step. “This is a very distracting element in the discussions. You try to achieve something together and – bam – there’s the threat of Article 16 again,” he told Der Spiegel. “It touches on the fundamentals of our relationship.
“The Northern Ireland Protocol was the most complicated part of the Brexit negotiations, and it is the foundation of the entire deal. Without the protocol, the whole system will collapse. We must prevent that at any cost.”


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Written by

Claire Gordon

Comments


    • James

      30 April 2022 • 15:42

      Who is this woman really taking orders from?

    Comments are closed.