Michael Gove has announced an “Agreement in Principle” with the EU on implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.
An important agreement about the Internal Market Bill has been struck between the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, acting on behalf of the UK Government, and his European counterpart, Maroš Šefčovič.
The agreement will allow the more controversial sections of the divisive Internal Market Bill to be shelved for good.
After the meeting, which a Government source said was deemed “pragmatic and constructive,” Michael Gove stated that:
“An agreement in principle has been found in the following areas, amongst others: Border Control, Posts/Entry, Points specifically for checks on animals, plants and derived products, export declaration, the supply of medicines, the supply of chilled meats and other food products to supermarkets, and other food products to supermarkets, and a clarification on the application of State aid under the terms of the protocol.”
“In view of these mutually agreed solutions, the UK will withdraw clauses 44, 45 and 47 of the UK Internal Market Bill, and not introduce any similar provisions in the Taxation Bill.”
These clauses were included as a safety measure against any possible action that the EU might attempt in an effort to disrupt or blockade the UK’s internal market.
The details of this agreement are yet to finalised and ratified.
