Jeffrey Donaldson has welcomed the “change in tone” from the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The DUP leader made the comment following a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Belfast on Friday.
They discussed the latest proposals by the bloc to solve the impasse over the protocol.
European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic announced on Thursday that the EU will table “very far-reaching” proposals within the next fortnight.
Mr Donaldson said: “I welcome the change in tone, I welcome the change in the language being used. People are now solution-focused.
“They’re now talking about negotiations. All of these things were off the table, even three months ago.
“I think that our actions have caused a sharper focus on the need to find a solution that removes the Irish Sea border and restores Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.”
He said there are continuing concerns around the protocol and there is a need to remove the Irish Sea border so businesses “can resume its normal trading relationship”.
Speaking about his meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Donaldson said they discussed the potential for an increase in co-operation between political leaders on both sides of the border.
“We talked about North-South relations in the current context, and then the potential I think to, if we can resolve the issues around the protocol and see that Irish Sea border removed, then the potential to look at how we can increase co-operation on areas that are of mutual benefit to both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland,” he added.