The European Commission had begun legal proceedings against the UK over the government’s plan to eradicate the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
Boris Johnson approved the treaty at the start of the year, but the government this month announced it would pass legislation that could reverse part of what was allowed, breaking international law.
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement in Brussels on Thursday that “infringement” proceedings would begin immediately, starting with a formal notice asking for the UK to provide an explanation.
“We had invited our British friends to remove the problematic parts of their draft internal market bill by the end of September,” she told reporterS.
“The deadline lapsed yesterday, the problematic provisions have not been removed. Therefore this morning the Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to the UK government. This is the first step in an infringement procedure.”
She said that the letter would invite the UK government to submit its “observations” on the issue within a month.
Ms Von der Leyen added: “We stand by our commitments.”
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