In total, the European Commission has launched seven such cases against London under the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has fueled tensions between the EU and the UK.
“Despite repeated calls by the European Parliament, 27 member states and the European Commission to implement the protocol (in Northern Ireland), the UK has not done so,” the commission said in a statement.
The Commission noted the UK’s “refusal to engage in serious debate since February” and the passage of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill by the British Parliament.
British lawmakers passed a controversial first-reading bill at the end of June that would have unilaterally changed the British province’s customs conditions and the bill is still ongoing, but the EU considers it illegal.
“In the spirit of constructive cooperation, we have avoided launching new internal procedures for almost a year to create space for cooperation on joint solutions with the UK,” said EU spokeswoman Arianna Podesta.
But the UK’s reluctance to engage in meaningful dialogue since February “and the continued passage of the Northern Ireland Bill in the UK Parliament works against the spirit of cooperation,” the official pointed out.
