Arlene Foster describes EU decision to invoke Article 16 as ‘incredible act of hostility’

Article 16 is best described as a nuclear option available to both the United Kingdom government and the EU.

Invoking Article 16 allows either side, in this instance the EU, to unilaterally act to “avert serious societal difficulties” - relating specifically in this instance to Covid-19 vaccines.

The NI Protocol is part of the Withdrawal Agreement that paved the way for the UK to leave the EU on January 31, 2020.

The details of both the Withdrawal Agreement and the NI Protocol were agreed by both the EU and the UK.

The move has been described as an “incredible act of hostility” by First Minister, Arlene Foster.

“By triggering Article 16 in this manner, the European Union has once again shown it is prepared to use Northern Ireland when it suits their interests but in the most despicable manner – over the provision of a vaccine which is designed to save lives,” said Mrs Foster.

“At the first opportunity the EU has placed a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland over the supply chain of the coronavirus vaccine.

“With the European Union using Article 16 in such an aggressive and most shameful way, it is now time for our Government to step up. I will be urging the Prime Minister to act and use robust measures including Article 16 to advance the interests of Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.”

Alliance Party MP for North Down, Stephen Farry, tweeted: “Use of Article 16 is NOT justified or warranted in this situation. We don’t need a vaccine war. Other alternatives exist to manage this challenge. Invites further tension and instability.

“Everyone needs to calm down.”

Responding to the EU’s triggering of Article 16 of the Protocol, Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken criticised Brandon Lewis for not having done the same in response to disruption to GB-NI trade since the transition period ended.

“The Secretary of State Brandon Lewis should be embarrassed and ashamed by the behaviour of the Government and the Northern Ireland Office following the unilateral decision of the EU to activate Article 16 to put controls on exports of vaccines from its territory,” said Mr Aiken.

“Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, our Armed Forces can’t bring their equipment into Northern Ireland without permission, eels can’t leave, the movement of family pets has been restricted, products have disappeared from our shelves and GB companies are stopping trade with Northern Ireland.

“For weeks now we have been told that Article 16 cannot be invoked accompanied by all sorts of feeble excuses for not doing so. The EU has unilaterally blown that concept out of the water by invoking Article 16.

“They have done it at the drop of a hat. Activating Article 16 is clearly not the nuclear option as portrayed by Alliance, SDLP and Sinn Fein. We were told time and time again that it couldn`t be done. Despite EU claims that they always acted in the best interests of Northern Ireland, when push came to shove, the EU looked after itself.

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