A move by the British government to rip up post-Brexit trade arrangements in Northern Ireland is “illegal and unrealistic”, the European Union’s ambassador to the UK has warned.

Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Joao Vale de Almeida argued steps being taken by Boris Johnson’s administration over the Northern Ireland Protocol were “a road to nowhere”.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told the show that action was needed to fix the “substantial problems” caused by the implementation of the agreement.

The differing views came as MPs prepare to debate the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol Bill on Monday.

Brussels has launched legal action against the UK in retaliation for the proposed legislation, which would effectively ditch key parts of the deal signed by Boris Johnson and the EU in 2019.

Critics have warned it would break international law and fuel distrust of Britain.

The treaty agreed by the UK and EU as a way to maintain a free-flowing Irish land border following Brexit has created economic barriers on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, causing resentment and anger among many unionists and loyalists.

Brexit will leave workers poorer than they would have been and has damaged Britain’s competitiveness, new study says

Ryanair chief says flight disruption to last through summer – and blames Brexit labour market issues

Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is ‘economic vandalism’, warns Irish leader

The row has created an impasse in efforts to form a devolved government administration in Belfast.

The UK is planning unilateral action to introduce separate “green” and “red” lanes for goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, drawing a line between those destined to stay within the UK and those heading to the Republic of Ireland and beyond.

But Mr Vale de Almeida said: “I am afraid that the government’s track is very probably, unfortunately, a road to nowhere and we would like to avoid that.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Criticising the UK government’s plan, he said: “We are not dismissing but we read it very carefully and we think, to be very frank, that it is both illegal and unrealistic.

“It is illegal because it is a breach of international law, a breach of EU law, UK law and international law.

“It is a treaty that we signed, ratified and even went through a general election in this country.”

The ambassador added: “We also believe it is unrealistic because it does not provide a real alternative to the protocol.

“You know, we had long negotiations to try and square the circle around the problems created by Brexit and the kind of Brexit that was chosen.

“None of us outside could find anything other than this platform to try to address those issues.

“We are committed to find the practical solutions for implementation but we cannot start talking if the baseline is to say everything we have agreed before is to be put aside.”

Read more:
What is the Northern Ireland Protocol and why does it matter?
How long will the UK survive?
Tearing up NI trade deal is ‘economic vandalism’ – Irish PM

The diplomat insisted the EU was “very committed to finding solutions”, but argued controls were needed to protect Northern Ireland’s Good Friday peace agreement and safeguard the bloc’s single market.

However, defending the government, Mr Lewis said: “The problem with the protocol is the way the EU want to see it implemented and actually as a government it would be wrong of us to leave a situation in Northern Ireland that isn’t working.

“What we are doing is fixing the problems within the protocol about how it is being implemented so that businesses can prosper again, so that people in Northern Ireland who at the moment, for example, can’t even benefit from the chancellor’s decisions on VAT and fuel tax that have helped people across the rest of the UK.”

He argued the current operation of the protocol breached the Good Friday Agreement as it was preventing the return of power-sharing at Stormont.

He added: “We have got to resolve that, that’s what this legislation will do but, ultimately, we want to do this by agreement with the EU but to do that, they need to show some flexibility and actually come and negotiate in a flexible way.”

Related posts:

Wales to ease certain lockdown restrictions – one week earlier than previously planned What is the Greensill lobbying scandal and why is David Cameron involved? PM issued with county court judgment for £535 debt Does Johnson of today agree with his 2004 self on ‘whitewash’ inquiries? Lockdown easing delayed until 19 July as Delta variant cases rise Nothing appears to have changed in the data – so why has the roadmap been delayed? England footballer Tyrone Mings hits back at Priti Patel after taking the knee comment PM faces further pressure from Conservative MPs over lockdown easing COVID jabs to be made compulsory for care home staff and looked at for NHS workers Brexit minister Lord Frost demands ‘intensive talks process’ with EU over Northern Ireland Protocol Ministers face questions over Prince Andrew settlement with fears of ‘bleak shadow’ over Queen’s Jubilee Sunak to ‘stand by’ hardworking families amid cost of living crisis when he delivers spring statement