{"id":21618,"date":"2021-05-30T08:13:57","date_gmt":"2021-05-30T12:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=21618"},"modified":"2021-05-31T11:15:29","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T15:15:29","slug":"eu-rejects-claims-that-they-are-using-the-north-to-punish-uk-for-brexit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=21618","title":{"rendered":"EU Rejects Claims That They Are Using The North To Punish UK For Brexit"},"content":{"rendered":"

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European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic (PA Wire\/PA Images)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic has rejected an accusation that the European Union (EU) is using the North to punish the UK for Brexit.<\/p>\n

DUP leader Edwin Poots claimed the North is being used as a \u201cplaything\u201d by Europe, with more checks on goods from Britain at ports per week than take place in Rotterdam once grace periods end.<\/p>\n

He accused the EU of doing \u201cdemonstrable harm to every individual in Northern Ireland\u201d, adding it is having a \u201cdevastating impact\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr Poots said the UK government has the grounds to trigger Article 16 to put the brakes on the Protocol due to \u201ceconomic and societal damage\u201d, warning about future difficulties in receiving food and medicines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have violence on our streets in Northern Ireland, which hasn\u2019t been the case for years, and that\u2019s on the back of this Protocol,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Also appearing on the BBC\u2019s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Sefcovic said they searched for four years for the \u201cbest solution to the very sensitive situation in Northern Ireland\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said for the EU and the UK it was \u201cvery clear\u201d that was the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n

He also urged a focus on policies and politics that unite rather than divide and to look at the Protocol as an \u201copportunity\u201d for the North.<\/p>\n

Mr Sefcovic said he wants to meet the Northern Ireland Executive parties before the next Joint Committee, which is expected to take place in the middle of June.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to hear from Mr Poots himself but also from other leaders of the political parties who form the Northern Ireland Executive and discuss with them what we can do better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Poots also said while the European Commission over the years \u201cput their heart and soul into winning peace in Northern Ireland\u201d, they currently \u201cdon\u2019t seem to care for the peace process \u2026 that really needs to change, that attitude needs to change\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the European Union seeking to punish the United Kingdom. As a consequence, Northern Ireland is being used as a plaything for the European Union,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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