Germany criticizes UK's attempt to change Northern Ireland Protocol

BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday criticized the UK's attempt to unilaterally change the protocol regulating trade with Northern Ireland after Brexit.

Scholz's remarks came during a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger.

Responding to a question on the UK's bid to unilaterally change the Northern Ireland Protocol, he said it was a "very sad decision" made by the British government.

Noting that this move means leaving the agreements between the European Union and the UK, Scholz said "there is no reason for this. The EU will react to it together."

The EU and the UK have been in a dispute for years over the application of the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit agreement which established a special trade regime.

To avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in respect of the Good Friday Agreement, parties agreed that Northern Ireland would remain a part of the EU’s customs regime and the UK would apply customs checks.

Last October, the European Commission proposed a set of new measures on simplifying the certification system and reducing control for goods transported from other parts of Great Britain to Northern Ireland in the area of public, plant and animal health.

In April, the bloc also adopted legislation allowing the British government to supply medicine to Northern Ireland on their terms.

The UK left the EU after 47 years of membership on Jan. 31, 2020.