Senior MEP-UK Actions On NI Protocol 'Unhelpful To Say The Least'

Chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, German MEP David McAllister, tweets a thread on the UK's unilateral extension of grace periods re: NI-GB trade:

• "A thread on the recent developments: The UK Coordination Group held a meeting today with [Commission VP] Maros Sefcovic to assess the worrying situation created by the UK Government's announcement that it would adopt unilateral measures to extend certain grace periods. This is unnecessary and untimely. The EU side has offered to discuss the flexibilities allowed by the protocol framework, but the UK Government has again chosen the slippery slope of acting outside the framework of the protocol. Moreover, this happens at a moment where the European Parliament is examining the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and has yet to decide when the vote on the consent will take place. These developments are unhelpful, to say the least. Escalating the situation is not the solution. The EU has demonstrated time and time again a clear and unambiguous will to a pragmatic, solution-driven approach to facilitate everyday life in Northern Ireland. The unilateral decision by the UK undermines this approach. The EP has been and remains fully committed to the faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement, which is the only way to protect it in all its dimensions and avoid a hard border."
• The implication in McAllister's statement is that the EP could put on hold its ratification of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, something that is required before the treaty becomes part of EU law. At present it is only being provisionally applied.
• Earlier today, MNI Political Risk produced an article examining the potential implications of the UK gov'ts actions:https://marketnews.com/mni-political-risk-analysis...