The EU is furious at plans to boost British jobs by insisting offshore wind firms submit plans showing how they will make more parts in the UK by the year 2030. The legal threat from Brussels could cause further frictions between the UK and EU in the wake of a dispute over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
France and Spain are leading the outrage among member states and have asked the European Commission to step in and take action. They say contracts worth billions of pounds for wind farms must be opened up to companies on the continent. The EU claims that the Government is in breach of the terms of the trade agreement that was signed in December 2020. According to The Sun, Brussels is expected to launch a formal dispute with the World Trade Organisation WTO and could take action in the coming hours.
A Whitehall source said that with Britain snapping up offshore wind factories and the thousands of jobs they come with, it is no surprise that Brussels is throwing their toys out of the pram. They are envious of the progress we are making. The EU's demands would put at risk thousands of jobs for Britons. Ministers have vowed to hit back at the EU's legal challenge. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the UK would rigorously contest any action taken by the Commission. A Government spokesperson said they would wait for the matter to be raised with the WTO, as they said that they would wait to see what action they may take - LEO McKINSTRY COMMENT : 'I'm deeply concerned! The EU's fourth CfD allocation round is expected to secure more renewable energy capacity than the previous three rounds and we fully expect it to continue uninterrupted regardless of whether Boris Johnson is ousted as PM WARNING : "This is what happens" as eurozone lags behind UK REACTION The fourth CfD allocation round is expected to secure more renewable energy capacity than the previous three rounds. Boris Johnson blamed the EU for implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in an insane and petty way, which has resulted in an increase in tensions with the EU. He blamed the EU's heavy-handed implementation of bureaucratic rules for scores of businesses deciding to stop providing Northern Ireland. In the Commons, Johnson said, "I never thought, when we negotiated, that it would mean 200 businesses would stop supplying Northern Ireland, food being blocked and Christmas cards being surcharged."