EU begins legal action after 'illegal' move by UK to override Northern Ireland Protocol

The EU has begun legal proceedings against the UK after it published legislation that would override the parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Maros Sefcovic, vice-president of the European Commission, said the plan to tear up the agreement, which governs Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trading arrangements, was illegal.

The commission confirmed that Brussels will resume legal proceedings against the UK, which it suspended in September, for breaching the EU withdrawal treaty agreed in 2020.