Sánchez tells Britain: “Leave withdrawal agreement alone”

During the Southern European Countries Summit, between Sánchez and six other leaders of EU member States along the Mediterranean, Spain's president said: “Agreements are there to be fulfilled.”

He called for Johnson to abandon his Internal Market Bill and keep to the terms of the deal struck ahead of the UK's departure from the European Union on February 1 this year.

Sánchez's plea echoes that of key figures in Brussels, including Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who has told Johnson to withdraw the Bill before the end of September or risk a 'no-deal' scenario.

The EU has issued a sound ultimatum to the UK, saying the proposed unilateral amendments to the withdrawal agreement had 'seriously damaged trust' between the bloc and the British government and could mean talks of a trade deal ceased altogether.

In fact, Europe may even take legal action to enforce the withdrawal agreement if Britain goes ahead with its plans.

European Commission vice-president Maros Šefčovič had some strong words for the UK – using language described by the Spanish media as 'unprecedented in diplomatic relations' and 'even more so in EU bureaucratic interactions' – saying the unilateral alteration to the withdrawal agreement would be 'an extremely serious violation' of international law.

“The withdrawal agreement contains a number of mechanisms and legal remedies to address violations of the legal obligations contained in the text, which the European Union will not be shy in using,” he stressed.

Europe has informed Boris Johnson's cabinet in writing that the withdrawal deal is a legally-binding contract which 'neither the EU nor the UK can unilaterally change, clarify, amend, interpret, disregard or disapply'.

The substance of the Internal Market Bill the UK is attempting to bring into force is that no checks on goods transported to mainland Britain from Northern Ireland will apply after the Brexit transition period, and no forms will need to be filled in.

It would allow the UK to disapply European legislation concerning State aid on trade transactions between EU territory and Northern Ireland, and states explicitly that these provisions cannot be declared illegal in Britain just because they are considered incompatible with international treaties.

Cabinet office minister Michael Gove insists it is a question of Parliamentary sovereignty – as in, UK Parliament 'would not be acting unconstitutionally' if it passed legislation that breached Britain's treaty obligations.

Gove says any treaties 'only become binding to the extent that they are enshrined in domestic legislation' and that 'whether to enact or repeal' said legislation and its content 'is for Parliament and Parliament alone' to decide.

Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis admitted earlier this week that the Internal Market Bill would 'break international law', but 'only in a specific and limited way'.