{"id":23937,"date":"2021-11-12T13:22:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T18:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23937"},"modified":"2021-11-13T09:25:40","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T14:25:40","slug":"eu-calls-for-serious-headway-in-ni-protocol-discussions-next-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23937","title":{"rendered":"EU Calls For ‘Serious Headway’ In NI Protocol Discussions Next Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
The European Commission vice-president said there had been a \u2018change in tone\u2019 from UK negotiators (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSerious headway\u201d needs to be made in negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol in the next week, the EU has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said there had been a \u201cchange in tone\u201d from the UK during the latest round of negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes after the UK government appeared to soften its stance on using the protocol\u2019s get-out clause, describing Article 16 as a \u201clegitimate part of the protocol\u2019s provisions\u201d while stressing there was a \u201cpreference to find a consensual way forward\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a press conference following the latest round of talks held in London on Friday, Mr Sefcovic said: \u201cWe can and must arrive at the agreed solution that Northern Ireland truly deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is also why I raised forcefully that we need to make serious headway in the course of next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is particularly important as regards the issue of medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn uninterrupted long-term supply of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is the protocol-related issue on everyone\u2019s mind in Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said there had been a \u201cchange in tone\u201d from UK Brexit minister Lord Frost in the fourth round of talks held with the UK government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Sefcovic said: \u201cI acknowledge and welcome the change in tone of discussion with David Frost today, and I hope this will lead to tangible results for the people in Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told reporters the UK needed to \u201creciprocate the big move the EU has made\u201d on the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he was \u201cconvinced the issue of medicines could be a blueprint for how to approach and solve together the remaining outstanding issues\u201d between the UK and the trading bloc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the talks, a UK government spokesman said: \u201cLord Frost noted that there remained significant gaps to be bridged between the UK and EU positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe noted that, as set out to the House of Lords on November 10th, it remained the UK\u2019s preference to find a consensual way forward, but that Article 16 safeguards were a legitimate part of the protocol\u2019s provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLord Frost also underlined the need to address the full range of issues the UK had identified in the course of discussions, if a comprehensive and durable solution was to be found that supported the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and was in the best interests of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn this context, although talks had so far been conducted in a constructive spirit, Lord Frost underlined that in order to make progress, it was important to bring new energy and impetus to discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next set of talks will take place in Brussels on Friday, November 19th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK has set a December deadline for resolving the renegotiation of the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October, the EU offered a series of alterations to the agreement, which is designed to maintain free-flowing trade on the island of Ireland without a hard border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement effectively keeps Northern Ireland within the EU single market, meaning that trade goods must be checked on arrival from mainland UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU has offered to cut out 80 per cent of these checks, with the aim of helping businesses and the economy in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the UK government is seeking further alterations to the agreement, including removing the role of judges in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as the arbitrators of disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the role of the ECJ, Mr Sefcovic confirmed that \u201cdefinitely nothing\u2019s changed\u201d in the EU\u2019s position.<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>