Photographer: Anthony Devlin / Bloomberg
Photographer: Anthony Devlin / Bloomberg
The European Union has been forced to hastily change its new vaccine controls after provoking outrage because they involved restricting exports to Northern Ireland, rekindling the tensions that almost hindered Brexit negotiations.
A few hours after the bloc announced the controversial new measures, the European Commission issued an statement to clarify that it will “ensure that the Ireland / Northern Ireland Protocol is not affected”.
The initial plan included an option for the EU to invoke an emergency clause in the Brexit agreement to prevent vaccines from being bloc to Northern Ireland. The threat of restrictions between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland was met with dismay in Dublin, London and Belfast, with all sides pressing the EU to reverse the course.
But while the EU’s executive arm does not trigger the controversial clause, it has not entirely removed the threat. He warned that he would consider using “all instruments” if vaccine export bans are circumvented.
Even raising the tenuous prospect of reintroducing checkpoints would disturb a delicate political balance. The key to Brexit’s business was to avoid checks between northern and southern Ireland, a border region that has suffered decades of violence.
The EU measure has even put traditional political enemies in Northern Ireland into rare agreement. Sinn Fein said it was a “serious mistake”, while the Union Democratic Party described it as “” an incredible act of hostility “.
Being forced to issue a statement just before midnight on Friday in Brussels was the last in a series of communication disasters for the EU executive branch, starting a week ago with the news that AstraZeneca Plc will not deliver as many vaccines as promised.
EU export proposals were rushed forward, with controversial sections on Northern Ireland added only at the end of the drafting process, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Any change in the fragile Irish border issue has more than political ramifications. It would also be a concern for companies in Northern Ireland, which were already struggling to import products from Britain since Brexit came into effect on January 1.
Vaccine measures, due to come into effect on Saturday, require pharmacists to seek authorization before sending doses manufactured in the EU to other countries. Approval will occur if the amount does not threaten the deliveries agreed on the block.
Even with the change in the Northern Ireland issue, the actions remain extremely controversial. The EU has faced criticism for controls by the World Health Organization, companies and governments outside the bloc.
– Assisted by Tim Ross