Move likely further to antagonise EU but leaders hope Queen’s death may help bring about reconciliation
The UK has made a unilateral decision to continue suspending border checks on farm produce and other goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, a move likely to antagonise the EU but not provoke further action.
London notified Brussels of its decision on Thursday in its formal response to seven lawsuits brought by the EU over the alleged failure of the UK to comply with the Northern Ireland protocol.
The UK will also request that a full specialised committee on EU programmes, the official forum for Brexit implementation issues, takes place next week. EU sources say it is more likely to centre on discussions about the UK’s continued exclusion from the EU’s flagship Horizon Europe science research fund.
