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MEPs are attempting to force more concessions from Britain over the contentious Northern Ireland border. However, EU bureaucrats fear the move will backfire and undermine ongoing legal action against the UK. Brussels is trying to force Britain to fully comply with the terms of the Brexit divorce deal. This would mean additional checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, infuriating unionists. The UK has unilaterally suspended some of these measures amid fears they will further inflame tensions in Northern Ireland. More than a dozen police officers were injured in loyalist rioting across the province earlier this month. Speaking to Express.co.uk an EU diplomat said: “There is serious incredulity around the table. “The irresponsible actions by the UK government have been bemoaned by MEPs for months only for them to act exactly the same way.” Boris Johnson agreed to new checks on trade with Northern Ireland to prevent a border across the island of Ireland. There were fears this would have undermined the Good Friday Agreement which brought three decades of conflict to a close. While the new trade deal was agreed last December, and ratified by the British parliament, it has yet to be approved by the European Parliament. German MEP Bernd Lange, who runs the parliament’s trade committee, said no vote will be held until Britain gives “clear commitments” to impose checks on Northern Ireland. Meanwhile Lord Frost is set for a crunch showdown with his European Union rival on Thursday as Brussels piles the pressure on the UK to accept a massive U-turn on the thorny issue of trade arrangements for Northern Ireland. The UK Cabinet minister met European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic in the Belgian capital for "informal" talks as they attempt to iron out issues on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Under the terms of the Protocol, goods from the rest of the UK moving to Northern Ireland are subject to border checks. The measures are aimed at protecting the EU single market without creating a land border between the North and the Republic in line with the Good Friday Agreement. Earlier this week, EU sources proposed to UK officials 90 percent of border checks could be wiped out but only if Britain agrees to align food standards with those of the bloc. However, this would mark a huge U-turn from the UK, with Lord Frost's negotiating team previously rejecting any chance of Britain aligning to EU standards. Following several nights of violence on the streets of Belfast, insiders warned this would still not address concerns from loyalists as it would still require a significant amount of paperwork. Last month, relations between London and Brussels crumbled when the EU announced it was taking legal action following a unilateral decision from Britain to extend the grace periods intended to ease the introduction of the new controls. Ahead of the crunch meeting, the UK Government said it had agreed with the EU to have an additional month, until mid-May, to respond to legal action over the alleged breach of the Protocol. Downing Street has warned the UK and EU still have "significant differences" ahead of the crunch showdown in Brussels on Thursday. A UK Government spokeswoman said: "Technical engagement with the EU in relation to the Protocol had continued over recent days and we remain in regular contact at all levels. "The discussions have been constructive but there are still significant differences that need to be resolved. "Both the UK and EU are engaging with business, civil society and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland, to understand the issues they are facing. "The UK remains committed to working through the outstanding issues in order to restore confidence on the ground in Northern Ireland, reflect the needs of communities and respect all dimensions of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement."