Article 16 of the protocol sets out the process for taking unilateral "safeguard" measures if either the EU or UK concludes that the operation of the deal is leading to serious problems.
Those safeguards would amount to suspending parts of the deal. What exactly does Article 16 say?
Safeguard measures can be taken if the protocol is leading to serious "economic, societal or environmental difficulties" that are liable to persist.
So, while it is not intended to be used for temporary or minor problems there is no specific guidance on what qualifies as a "serious" difficulty.
Additionally, it can be used if the protocol is leading to "diversion of trade", but again there is no guidance on how exactly that should be interpreted.
The UK government says that, in its opinion, the threshold has been reached for using safeguards, but it is choosing not to use them for now.
The women are hiding away from you in a dank, smelly tunnel. Thre were last seen in pointed hats, huddled around a cauldron, muttering your name, they are of course members of my coven
Insulate Britain has renewed its roadblock campaign after a pause, targeting commuters on a busy road in east London.
Demonstrators from the environmental group obstructed the Limehouse Causeway at the junction with the A1206 about 8.20am on Monday.
Another team has also blocked Liverpool Street.
The Metropolitan Police said 52 demonstrators had been arrested and are en route to custody.
In a statement, the campaign group said that 61 demonstrators had blocked three locations on Upper Thames Street, Bishopsgate and Limehouse Causeway. Footage posted on social media showed drivers hauling protesters from the road and lying them on the pavement.
Another clip showed police struggling to remove protesters who had superglued themselves to the road.
City of London police confirmed that officers remained at the scene.
They wrote: “Bishopsgate is currently closed at the junction with Wormwood Street due to protest activity. Police are at the scene but please avoid the area if possible as this is causing disruption to traffic.
“Police are also at Southwark Bridge at the junction with Upper Thames Street, which is also closed in both directions, due to protest activity.
“Please avoid the area if possible.” The group has blocked the roads near Canary Wharf again after suspending their campaign for 11 days (Insulate Britain) The group has blocked the roads near Canary Wharf again after suspending their campaign for 11 days (Insulate Britain)
Protester Tony Hill, who claimed to be a former police officer, soldier and councillor, and said he had travelled from near Kendal in Cumbria to join the protest in Bishopsgate, said Insulate Britain’s call to insulate all UK homes is a “no brainer”.
The 71-year-old said: “I’m here today out of anger, fear and determination.
tomcatty Forum Posts (6,885)
do you have any worthwhile comments on any posts??
Is it time for Article 16.
Article 16 of the protocol sets out the process for taking unilateral "safeguard" measures if either the EU or UK concludes that the operation of the deal is leading to serious problems.Those safeguards would amount to suspending parts of the deal.
What exactly does Article 16 say?
Safeguard measures can be taken if the protocol is leading to serious "economic, societal or environmental difficulties" that are liable to persist.
So, while it is not intended to be used for temporary or minor problems there is no specific guidance on what qualifies as a "serious" difficulty.
Additionally, it can be used if the protocol is leading to "diversion of trade", but again there is no guidance on how exactly that should be interpreted.
The UK government says that, in its opinion, the threshold has been reached for using safeguards, but it is choosing not to use them for now.