Mr Sefcovic told a London audience that British legislation designed to overturn parts of the post-Brexit Northern Ireland trade regulation would simply “not work”. He also warned that the “shadow” of the controversy would make Brussels more cautious about continuing to allow British companies access to financial services, data and certain food markets. Politics Hub: Inquiry into whether PM misled parliament offers anonymity to party witnesses The end of the so-called “mutual recognition” of regulations in these areas could become a possibility as a result of the change in UK standards, Mr Sefcovic said, adding that Brussels would “closely monitor developments”. The protocol was devised to prevent the return of the hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But one consequence is that goods exported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain are subject to customs controls, angering trade unionists who refuse to participate in the distribution of power until that changes. Britain has rejected EU proposals to resolve the stalemate. Brussels says these would reduce controls on certain goods by 80%, halve customs bureaucracy and allow the movement of certain goods that would otherwise be restricted, such as sausages. Mr Sefcovic said Brexit had increased bureaucracy and hurt businesses on both sides of the English Channel, but that the EU now wanted to move from it to “a truly strategic EU-UK partnership”. He accused Britain of adopting a “my way or the highway” approach. “We are really in a difficult situation, which will certainly not just disappear,” he added. “You may not hear it often from a European Commissioner, but it is time to end Brexit.” Mr Sefcovic’s comments echoed Boris Johnson’s election promise in 2019. They came during a speech at the headquarters of the financial news and data provider Bloomberg in London, where in 2013 David Cameron had announced his intention to hold a referendum on EU membership. Mr Sefcovic said the EU “has its limits” in what it can offer and must protect the integrity of the single market. It was unrealistic and unfair, he said, for the UK to expect “that all obstacles can be removed when goods are being transported to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK”. “After Brexit, the pre-Brexit reality is no longer an option,” Sefcovic added. He said the UK’s “unilaterally changing the game and deciding what enters the EU single market” is tantamount to a “clear violation of international law”. Mr Sefcovic said Britain’s plan to circumvent the protocol would “lead to continued uncertainty”. “Ministers in London would be free to change the rules out of whim. “A dual regulatory regime – where companies choose EU or UK regulations – would bury them under a mountain of bureaucracy.” Mr Sefcovic insisted that, with stability and legal certainty about the protocol’s arrangements, Northern Ireland could enjoy “jam on both sides of the bread” through its unique location, making it an investment hub. The speech comes days after the prime minister’s plan to bypass the protocol overcame his first hurdle in the Commons despite strong criticism from former Prime Minister Theresa May. Earlier this month, Mr Sefcovic responded to the bill by reopening legal action against the UK for alleged breach of the EU withdrawal treaty and launching two new breach lawsuits.
