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First Minister Arlene Foster used her final major speech in the role to issue a clear warning to the European Union in light of ongoing skirmishes around the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit trade deal. Ms Foster remarked the nation is a full and active part of the United Kingdom and its position must not be undermined. Addressing Stormont on Monday, the First Minister said: “Sadly, broader politics in Northern Ireland between the UK and Ireland, and the UK and the EU, has been out of balance. An imbalance created by the protocol.
“In any negotiation when one of those at the table is perceived as weak, the clear temptation is for others to take full advance.
“However, such short-term advantage comes at the cost of long-term harm to relationships. It is not a real partnership.
“An imbalance and instability is built in that will fester and deteriorate. And if Brussels keep thinking the protocol is enough, they are in denial.”
Ms Foster continued: “Imbalance and instability in the context of Northern Ireland is a truly dangerous cocktail.
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“Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and it needs to be treated as such.
“And if the EU does not, then the UK will have a practical, political and moral obligation to act to protect the everyday life of everyone in Northern Ireland.”
The stern warning comes after French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly suggested Northern Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom.
The Elisée has however denied Mr Macron had ever made such comments, with Paris insisting the President had merely pointed out Northern Ireland and mainland Britain are on two different islands.
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Despite the rebuke, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Sunday claimed several figures at the European level had shown a failure to recognise Northern Ireland’s position in the UK.
Mr Raab said: “We have serially seen senior EU figures talk about Northern Ireland as if it was some kind of different country to the UK.
“It is not only offensive, it has real world effects on the communities in Northern Ireland, creates great concern, great consternation.
“Could you imagine if we talked about Catalonia, the Flemish part of Belgium, one of the lander in Germany, northern Italy, Corsica in France as different countries? We need a bit of respect here.”
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And on Monday, France’s Europe Minister Clément Beaune once again hit out at the UK by accusing the British Government of attempting to bypass the protocol.
Mr Beaune said: “Mr Johnson thinks he can sign agreements, not respect them and the Europeans won’t react. This is a test for Europe.
“We have said very calmly and very simply – we respect signed agreements.
“We don’t want any favours, it’s not about morality – we have signed an agreement for our fishermen, for Northern Ireland.
“There are agreements that have been agreed and are not being respected.”
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