European Union-UK ties 'at crossroads', warns official

BRUSSELS: The relationship between the European Union (EU) and the UK is "at crossroads" amid the Northern Ireland row, warned Maros Sefcovic, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of inter-institutional relations and foresight.

"We are at a crossroads, now we have a choice of which path to go down: either we are working together, with the UK abiding by its international obligations and engaging in a good faith. Or, the UK continues to take unilateral actions," Sefcovic said at an event on Friday.

Sefcovic warned that a wrong choice could lead to a downward spiral, taking the attention of both parties away from what should be their main goal, building a strong strategic partnership, reports Xinua news agency.

Sefcovic was referring to the UK's seemingly unwillingness "to find workable solutions" to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is aimed at implementing a soft border on the island of Ireland and preserve the peace induced by the Good Friday Agreement.

The protocol is a "cornerstone" of the Brexit deal, emphasised Sefcovic, calling on the UK to respect its commitments.

On June 9, officials from both sides held talks in London on the Northern Ireland Protocol ahead of the G7 Summit but produced no breakthroughs. Tensions have been rising between the two sides on post-Brexit trade and a "grace period" for some border checks that will end at the end of this month.

According to reports, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said last week that the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol had been "very lopsided" and had had "real world effects" on the people. He called for the EU to show "a bit of respect".

Meanwhile, Sefcovic on Friday estimated that the EU had already shown great understanding by turning their "rules upside down and inside out", and that they are ready to go "beyond flexibility" to make things work. (IANS)

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