‘Keep it up!’ Britons mock Brussels as EU already prepares to rip up own Brexit rules
Brexit: Drivers have sandwiches confiscated at Dutch border
Dutch customs officers have been filmed laughing at British drivers as they confiscated ham sandwiches at the border. One member of staff at the Hook of Holland seaport mocked the trucker, saying: “Welcome to Brexit, sir.” Dutch TV also broadcast footage of the officials wearing hi-vis jackets taking tin foil-wrapped food away from drivers that had arrived by ferry.
When one Briton was asked whether it was acceptable to keep just the bread, they were told: “Everything will be confiscated.”
EU rules ban meat, meat products, milk and dairy products being brought in from outside the bloc for “personal consumption”.
Earlier this week, a senior diplomat suggested EU countries could reconsider the meat and cheese ban and bring an end to customs officials confiscating packed lunches from British truckers.
The source admitted negotiations would have to begin soon because cross-Channel business is still being heavily disrupted.
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
Now Britons have viciously mocked the EU on the rapid U-turn, which comes less than a month after Britain finally cut all ties with the bloc.
In response to the original Express.co.uk story, one reader wrote: “They have lost more business through being petty over a drivers lunch.
“Boycott EU goods! Keep it up. Unforgivable!”
A second reader commented: “I do hope that the UK is prepared to ensure OUR rules are being met by inspecting every single thing that the EU export to the UK.
“Might cause a few delays, but rules are rules.”
Another person said: “Have they realised the general public in the UK just retaliate!
“I’ve stopped buying all imported meat and dairy products a long time ago from the EU!
“It seems I’m not the only one! It’s piled high in my supermarkets!”
DON’T MISS
Sturgeon warned ‘EU ‘won’t provide Scotland money’ [COMMENT]
Brussels insider fumes as Boris Johnson rejects EU’s trade deal delay [OPINION]
Tony Blair ‘gifted’ EU key Galileo technology [REPORT]
A fourth reader wrote: “All the bluster of the Remoaner trolls is yet again proved rubbish!
“The EU need things to run smoothly without friction due to the fact we are one of their biggest customers and have huge trade surplus.”
Another person added: “The UK food standards are the best in the world. Far superior to Europe indeed the world.”
If talks were to open with the EU on this issue, Downing Street would have to make long-term promises not to adopt lower food standards, the source added.
The insider said: “There might be questions about confiscating sandwiches at the border.
“Could we in the future discuss issues to have less frictions? Of course. This is all in the governance structures in the TCA.
“But to discuss further facilitation, one way or another, to reduce friction also depends on what the UK is doing and where they want to go.
“If I read about ‘Singapore on Thames’ and increasing the working week beyond 48 hours – I don’t think that is a good sign to have discussions on all the outstanding issues.”
A second diplomat said the EU was “keeping the door open for facilitation and exploring options in that respect”.
Source: Read Full Article