MEP challenges Von Der Leyen over Article 16 'shambles'
The triggering of Article 16 wouldn’t have resulted in checks on the island of Ireland, but would require documentation before vaccines are shipped to Ireland.
Ireland’s Midlands Northwest MEP Chris MacManus questioned the European Commission on what he described as its “outrageous” recent attempt to use Article 16 of the Irish Protocol.
Speaking from the floor of the Sinn Féin parliamentarian said it was “unacceptable” that the Commission failed to see the potentially “destabilising” effect on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement by proposing the use of Article 16 of the Irish Protocol. “We must ensure that the fiasco isn’t repeated,” he lambasted.
Article 16 overrides part of the NI Protocol which prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland, and was intended as an emergency measure only to be used in “serious” circumstances.
The triggering of Article 16 wouldn’t have resulted in checks on the island of Ireland, but would require documentation before vaccines are shipped to Ireland.
The proposal was withdrawn hours after following a backlash of criticism from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain.
The Sinn Féin MEP also used his speaking time to call for an openness in communication between Brussels, Dublin and Belfast on all such matters in future, requesting a “structural commitment” with the north of Ireland at all levels, and recognising its “special status” as defined in the Protocol.
Mr MacManus concluded the address by urging “consistent dialogue with the Joint First Ministers” and for an EU understanding of their responsibilities to Irish Citizens in the six counties.
“There needs to be a systemic engagement with citizens, communities and their elected representatives. We must find a way to ensure that EU decisions that directly affect nearly two million north of Ireland citizens - currently without their input - is addressed and resolved. There must be no democratic deficit.”
Addressing the European parliament in Brussels, facing MEPs amid mounting criticism on the slow deployment of vaccines, Ms von der Leyen has conceded that the bloc is “not where it wants to be”.
Due to late orders, slow approval and supply setbacks, the EU’s 27 members have so far administered one dose to just 4% of their collective populations, compared with 66% in Israel, 19% in the UK and 13% in the US.
“We were late to authorise,” admitted the European commission president. “We were too optimistic when it came to massive production, and perhaps too confident that what we ordered would actually be delivered on time. We need to ask ourselves why that is the case.”
She also said that the EU “deeply regrets” triggering Article 16.