The Loyalist Communities Council have responded today (Tuesday 25 May) to comments made by EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen stating she is ‘ignoring the reality around her and clearly content to watch Northern Ireland descend into chaos this summer.’
Last night Von Der Leyen said:
“The Protocol is the only solution to ensure peace and stability in Northern Ireland. It’s our common duty with the UK to do whatever we can to reduce tensions there.
“We are exploring practical solutions to help minimise disruption to economic life in Northern Ireland.”
A spokesperson for the Loyalist Communities Council responded, saying:
“The comments from EC President Ursula Von Der Leyen that there is no alternative to the Northern Ireland Protocol shows how little she cares about peace and stability in Northern Ireland despite her protestations to the contrary. She is like an ostrich with her head in the sand ignoring the reality around her and clearly content to watch Northern Ireland descend into chaos this summer.
“I would appeal to her to start listening and to recognise that the imposition of the Protocol on the people of Northern Ireland without their involvement or consent is unsustainable and actually contrary to many of the key founding tenets of the European Union.
“I also appeal to the Irish government to 'man up' and admit to misleading the Commission with regard to the compatibility of the Protocol with the Belfast Agreement and its impact on both communities in Northern Ireland. This admission would enable the Commission and the United Kingdom government to collectively suspend the Protocol, and would do much to start to repair the damage caused to North-South relationships here.
“But be clear - the Protocol has to go and will go. The people of Northern Ireland will not accept this diktat from yet another unelected German.”
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