News   /   Reports

Burgers and chilled meats: UK-EU Brexit deal implementation row

Saeed Pourreza

Press TV, London

It’s been called the ‘Sausage war’; a dispute between the EU and former member UK about chilled meats, among other things, entering the bloc through Northern Ireland.

The Brexit divorce deal signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson kept Northern Ireland in the single market while it withdrew the rest of the UK.

To avoid major disruptions caused by a hard border with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and potentially jeopardizing the Good Friday Agreement, the two sides negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol, creating the Irish Sea border. Prime Minister Boris Johnson described it as an excellent deal.

But the new system got off to a shaky start. In Early February the EU complained that some goods were entering Northern Ireland without being checked properly declared.

In March, the UK decided to unilaterally extend the six-month grace period on British chilled meats, sausages included, until October. That angered Brussels who said the extension broke international law and threatened legal action.

The UK says the EU is being too strict about the implementing the deal, that Europe is hardly going to be flooded with chilled meats through Northern Ireland. The EU says they’re trying to be helpful, but if Boris Johnson doesn’t like the deal he shouldn’t have signed it.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku