Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

EU threatens legal action if UK doesn't scrap Brexit changes 'by end of month'

The EU has given the Government until the end of the month to abandon plans to change the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement or face legal action.
In a statement released after an emergency meeting in London, European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said Britain had ‘seriously damaged trust’ with Brussels.

He said ‘in no uncertain terms’ that the ‘timely and full implementation’ of the divorce deal is ‘a legal obligation.’

‘Violating the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement would break international law, undermine trust and put at risk the ongoing future relationship negotiations,’ the statement added.

But Michael Gove, who attended the meeting on behalf of the UK Government has hit back, saying the Government’s controversial Internal Market Bill ‘would not and could not’ be withdrawn.

In this piece of legislation, published on Wednesday, the Government proposed changes to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, which has already been ratified by parliament and agreed with the EU.

The bill would give UK ministers powers to overrule or ignore rules relating to the movement of goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, if this cannot be decided by a joint committee.

This is intended as insurance against a no-deal Brexit but undermines what has already been agreed.

The UK Government say the legislation is needed to protect the peace process in Northern Ireland but the EU says it will do the opposite.

Mr Sefcovic’s statement finished with a warning that the Withdrawal Agreement ‘contains a number of mechanisms and legal remedies to address violations of the legal obligations contained in the text – which the European Union will not be shy in using.’

The UK Government has responded by releasing its legal position relating to the proposed bill. It stated ‘honouring treaty obligations’ is a ‘key principle’ in the UK’s approach to international relations but these are ‘difficult and highly exceptional circumstances.’

The statement asserted that parliament is sovereign and can pass legislation which is in breach of the UK’s treaty obligations and would ‘not be acting unconstitutionally’ by doing so.

The Internal Market Bill will be formally debated by MPs in Parliament for the first time on Monday.

Lord Howard became the third former Conservative party leader to criticise the plans, while speaking in the House of Lords today.

He accused the Government of damaging the UK’s ‘reputation for probity and respect for the rule of the law’.

‘How can we reproach Russia or China or Iran when their conduct falls below internationally accepted standards, when we are showing such scant regard for our treaty obligations?’ he told his fellow peers.

The clash overshadowed the eighth round of trade negotiations between the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his British counterpart, David Frost.

There are just five weeks to go until the October 15 deadline set by the prime minister for an agreement on a trade deal.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
×