The European Union has ordered a review of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the next day after the Democratic Unionist threatened to overthrow the main Stomont party unless the Brexit agreement was broken.
Maros Sefcovic said he was “well aware” of the opposition to the treaty, which established a border between Britain and Northern Ireland to avoid a strong Irish border.
Second to second in Europe in Belfast, “I can’t change my words. Protocol is not a problem. Instead, it is the only solution we have.”
“Failure to use it will not solve the problem, but simply remove the solution,” he said 24 hours after the end of DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
He added, “Reconsideration of the Protocol – as the UK government says – could mean instability, uncertainty and unpredictability in Northern Ireland.”
Sefcovic also called on Britain, and the DUP, to resign, demanding that the European Court of Human Rights be stripped of its final role in interpreting EU rules in the region.
“Doing so could mean removing Northern Ireland from one EU market and another opportunity,” he warned a Slovak worker before challenging the DUP that the law was detrimental to the economy.
He also said the potential for Northern Ireland’s access to the UK market and Single Market has made it “an external powerhouse, for dynamic work and growth.”
“In this way you have a jam on both sides of the bread,” he said.
He also said the talks in the UK-EU should focus on reducing the potential for “daily living” while expanding Northern Ireland’s access to a single market.
He said, “We are looking for solutions that can work for all, including those who oppose the Protocol […] I know it is possible for us to work together, if the statements of both parties are mentioned below. “
Mr Sefcovic warned that it would not be possible for trade between Britain and Northern Ireland to be as contested as before.
“But I have to be honest: as we continue to look for solutions to reduce the problems of Brexit in your daily life, we cannot eliminate them – this is the result of Brexit and the UK Government’s choices.”
Sir Jeffrey told Sefcovic and Lord Frost on Thursday that they had “gods” to reconsider the deal, which requires Northern Ireland to continue to apply more rules in a single market in the EU.
He also announced that his ministers would leave “immediately” for meetings in the north of Dublin because the law had disrupted relations with Britain.
On Friday, he said he had threatened to remove his ministers from Stormont because he feared EU-UK talks would be “leaked” for years.
He told the BBC’s Nolan Show, “I’ve been flexible, I’ve given people time to take action that I feel is necessary to clear this Irish Sea border […] The damage that happens to our economy on a daily basis is unstable. “
On Monday, the UK and the EU he agreed to a representative agreement on the rules winning space and negotiation time on the agreement.
Various times of grace that delayed new checks, for example British cold meat and packages, were due to end in late September and re-launched the “sausage war” with Brussels.
Sefcovic urged the UK to implement the law, which could be voted in the region four years later.
Criticizing the veil in the UK, which has led to the reorganization of the agreement, he said the agreement was only approved because of the difficult compromise.
“Everyone close to the table understands the meaning of this. The establishment of this alliance will continue to seek lobbying from all sides,” he said.
He added, “A spirit of tolerance must be mutually supportive, since our role is also shared.”