European Union leaders have dismissed British claims to amend the terms of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, setting the stage for further disagreements over the special status of Northern Ireland.
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"There is no alternative but to fully implement the Northern Ireland protocol," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels following a summit of EU leaders on Monday. "If we see problems today, we should not forget that they are not from the law, they are from Brexit."
UK travel conditions in the EU have a well-functioning Northern Ireland still tied to a single bloc market. While the purpose of the plan is to maintain a single economic zone on the island of Ireland and to prevent divisions that could jeopardize the peace agreement, it also imposes trade barriers between the region and the U.K.
London has complained that the EU is forcing checks on goods traveling from Britain to Northern Ireland, making it risky to supply chains. The region witnessed the worst violence in April, in part to the growing dissatisfaction of unions affiliated with the Brexit agreement.
But the EU refuses to back down, saying that unless checks are enforced between Britain and Northern Ireland, then goods could enter a single bloc market without following the terms of the blog.
"Relations with the U.K. must remain mutually beneficial and will not undermine the integrity of the Single Market, Customs Union or EU independent decision-making body," leaders said in a joint statement on Monday.
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