In its near use of Article 50, the European Union has shown how it will stamp on Ireland

With reference to the aborted use of Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol by the European Commission, the EU has climbed down on this occasion (at least for the moment) but it represents a shot across the bows of the Republic’s establishment.

It tells them (and us although the media here in the Republic won’t tell us) that when it comes to something the EU considers important they will have no hesitation in stamping all over us.

We will have to wait for the contract between the EU and AstraZeneca to be published to see whether the EU slipped up when negotiating the contract.

If they did, there will be egg on the commission’s face.

We must also remember that the commission likes to think it is far superior to the member states (well most of them anyway).

Losing a row with a member state (or in this case an ex-member state) will cause the relevant directorate in the commission to lose face with their colleagues.

The fear of losing face was the main driving force behind the commission’s actions last week.

Michael Clarke, Dublin

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