Ulster Unionist leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has rebutted claims by European Commission Vice President, Maroš Šefčovič, that the Withdrawal Agreement provides clarity and stability for businesses and people in Northern Ireland.

Mr Aiken said:

“The statement from the European Commission on Thursday demonstrated continued ignorance about the Belfast Agreement. Instead of slapping themselves on the back for putting a border in the Irish Sea, EU officials should get out of their ivory towers and start speaking to people on the ground in Northern Ireland. They have wilfully ignored the opinions of unionists, consumers, the business community and farmers, which doesn`t bode well for the future.

In his statement European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said:

“Throughout this year, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that both the letter and spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement are respected and translated into viable solutions. These now provide businesses and people in Northern Ireland with clarity and stability, while upholding the integrity of our Single Market.”

“The arrogance of this statement knows no bounds. The EU might have ensured that the letter and the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement have been respected, but they have done no such thing for the Belfast Agreement. They have upended the fragile symmetry of the agreement itself by siding with those who said there could be violence if there was a land border, yet ignored those who peacefully warned against damaging the integrity of the United Kingdom’s single market and the undermining of the Belfast Agreement.

“Maroš Šefčovič’s claims that they have provided businesses and people in Northern Ireland with clarity and stability is more blatant nonsense and shameless propaganda. I`ve heard EU representatives criticise Donald Trump yet here they are copying many of his media traits.

“They have put a border in the Irish Sea, commercial goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain will require a customs declaration from January and some companies are deciding against supplying to the Northern Ireland marketplace.

“This was done with the aquiescence of a weak and negligent British Government which was never across the detail of negotiations and the DUP who foolishly agreed to regulatory differences between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom on 2 October 2019 when they endorsed Boris Johnson`s proposals.”