EU’s Šefčovič: I’ll do everything to avoid a Brexit ‘sausage war’

The U.K. needs to offer up a “roadmap” in Brexit talks that can put to rest a dispute over chilled meat exports to Northern Ireland, the European Commission’s pointman on the talks, MaroÅ¡ Å efčovič, said in an interview.

Speaking to POLITICO’s EU Confidential Podcast on the sidelines of the Globsec conference in Bratislava late last week, Å efčovič — dubbed the “sausage king” in Westminster due to his role enforcing the Northern Ireland protocol’s clause on chilled meats — says he needs clarity from the Brits.

“We should just respect the deals we have signed,” Å efčovič said. “We just want to have more predictability and stability in our relationship and not have this perpetual discussion product-by-product.”

“It’s not easy to spend four years in super detailed negotiations where every line took days, weeks, and sometimes months to negotiate … and then you see one breach after another,” said Å efčovič of the U.K.’s conduct.

The veteran Slovak commissioner previously moderated politically explosive talks between Russia and Ukraine over gas supply, but is now asking EU countries to approve a three-month extension to a deadline on chilled meat exports from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to head-off a “sausage war.”

“As a sausage king I definitely do not want a sausage war,” said Å efčovič. “I’m ready to do everything to prevent it.”

In a blow to makers of chorizo, Toulouse and bratwurst bangers across Europe, Šefčovič told EU Confidential that his favorite sausage is the nitran from his native Slovakia.

“I’m not a big expert in British sausage I’m afraid,” he said.

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