10 September 2020

FT: Micheál Martin says controversial UK move risks forfeiting trust of EU

Micheál Martin says controversial UK move risks forfeiting trust of EU .Ireland has called on the UK to abandon moves to unpick parts of its Brexit treaty, warning that London risks forfeiting the EU’s trust as time runs out in talks on a free trade deal.

Ireland has called on the UK to abandon moves to unpick parts of its Brexit treaty, warning that London risks forfeiting the EU’s trust as time runs out in talks on a free trade deal.

Micheál Martin, the Irish premier, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to table a controversial new bill that would modify those parts of the EU withdrawal agreement relating to Northern Ireland raised “justifiable doubts” as to whether the UK wanted to conclude trade negotiations. “I think the British government needs to move to restore trust and to give meaningful reassurance to the European negotiators,” Mr Martin told the Financial Times.

“Our colleagues in Europe, in particular those conducting the negotiations, are now wondering whether the will is there or not to arrive at a conclusion and get an agreement — and that is a very serious issue.” He joined a chorus of critics targeting Mr Johnson.

The European Commission said in an internal analysis paper on Wednesday that the UK plans amounted to a “clear breach” of the Brexit treaty. Mr Martin said the sections of Mr Johnson’s internal market bill that would undermine the agreement “should be withdrawn”. “In my view, the sensible thing would be to withdraw those clauses, but it's a matter for the British government now to decide how it is going to engage with the EU negotiators in how it seeks to restore trust and credibility to the process,” he said...

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