Northern Ireland

EU halts legal action against UK over Protocol breach in bid to ease tensions following street violence

NI Secretary of State said last month that the UK planned to extend the grace period for checks on GB to NI goods, prompting notice of legal action by the EU. Picture by Brian Lawless
NI Secretary of State said last month that the UK planned to extend the grace period for checks on GB to NI goods, prompting notice of legal action by the EU. Picture by Brian Lawless NI Secretary of State said last month that the UK planned to extend the grace period for checks on GB to NI goods, prompting notice of legal action by the EU. Picture by Brian Lawless

LEGAL action by the EU against the UK for breaching the Brexit deal's NI Protocol is to be postponed following the outbreak of violence.

Proceedings by the bloc began last month over the UK's decision to extend the grace period on goods entering the north from Britain.

The protocol, part of the trade deal deal reached between the UK and EU in December, stipulates that customs checks on goods must take place now the UK has left the bloc.

A three-month "grace period" was held from January 1, allowing a temporary exemption from stringent checks to ease pressure on industries trading in goods including food.

Legal proceedings were announced last month by the EU when Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said the UK planned to bypass the rules until October, effectively ignoring the end of the agreed grace period.

A letter of formal notice was sent on March 15 by the European Commission.

However, following the outbreak of violence that has seen loyalist and nationalist rioters attacking police, the EU is set to postpone its planned legal action, which was to begin on April 15.

The EU is now working on a joint plan with the UK to "defuse the issues", according to the Bloomberg news website, which reported that the planned legal action has been placed "on ice".