| UPDATED: 11:17, Thu, Feb 4, 2021 Link copied Sign up for our columnists plus the most commented stories driving conversation SUBSCRIBE Invalid email When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Disaster marred Brussels this week as the EU scrambled to defend its actions after threatening to cut the UK's vaccine supplies and triggering the contentious Article 16 of the Brexit deal, which effectively erects a hard border on the island of Ireland. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has since backtracked on the bloc's aggression, after a tense call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the question of stability across the Irish Sea has once again surfaced. Police are now monitoring "stress" and "growing discontent" within unionist communities in the border regions, with frustrated graffiti having appeared and "sinister" threats made to staff in recent days.