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Britain’s Foreign Minister Dominic Raab has said he is “confident” that Northern Ireland’s obstacles can be overcome to ensure the UK secures a trade deal with the European Union.
He said he believed that the UK government could allay American fears and navigate the Northern Ireland issue to satisfy allies in the US after Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, agreed during a phone call yesterday to “redouble efforts” to reach a trade agreement between the UK and the EU and signed the talks that will continue. next week.
Speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr, Mr Raab said: “We have been very clear, we are absolutely committed to abiding by the Good Friday Agreement, but our argument is, and it was good to have the opportunity when I was in Washington to explain It is the EU that has put pressure on that with the approach it has taken.
“We want to solve all these problems with the EU, obviously, the negotiations are ongoing, there is a lot of chance of reaching an agreement if we get the flexibility of the EU on fisheries and a level playing field.”
“I am sure that we will navigate all of those issues in a sensible, correct way and, as I said, we listen very carefully to our American friends, particularly in Hill and in the Irish lobby, they feel very committed to the Good Friday Agreement. We get it, and I pay tribute to what George Mitchell and Bill Clinton did, but it is not the UK that is putting it at risk, it is the EU’s approach. “
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When asked if a trade deal with the EU could be reached by weekends, the foreign secretary added: “I wouldn’t make assumptions, that’s the only thing we know about the Brexit process.”
“Talk to [UK chief negotiator] David Frost yesterday, the problems are where they are. The Prime Minister has spoken with Ursula von der Leyen, Head of the Commission, and negotiations are ongoing.
“What I would say is that it still comes down to two basic issues. Progress is being made, but we have to see if it is enough to get over the line.
“There are some fundamental interests at stake for the UK, points of democratic principle around the control of our laws, the control of our fisheries as an independent coastal state.
“I don’t think we can put them aside. But if the EU shows the flexibility, the goodwill to meet with us halfway through, I’m sure an agreement can still be reached.”
Johnson and von der Leyen’s conversation last month led to discussions “escalation” ahead of fallout after the October 15 European Council meeting briefly derailed the negotiations.
Johnson said a trade deal with the European Union was “to be done,” with his general outline already “pretty clear.”
“I have always been a huge fan of a trade deal with our European friends and partners,” Johnson told reporters.
“I think it remains to be done, the general lines are quite clear. We just have to go ahead and do it if we can. And I said that to Ursula Von der Leyen yesterday. And she totally agrees with me.”
He also reiterated that the purpose of the Internal Market Bill is “to protect and defend the Good Friday Agreement.”
When asked if he is determined to pass the Internal Market Bill in Parliament as it stands, the Prime Minister said:
“Yes, as I told Ursula, the parliamentary calendar is moving forward and the aim of that bill and indeed the finance bill is to protect and defend the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process in Ireland from the North.
“That is one of the things that we are united in with our friends in the White House.”
Frost was in the Belgian capital to speak face-to-face with his European Union counterpart, Michel Barnier, earlier this week as the deadline for reaching a deal approaches.
After yesterday’s phone call, Mr Frost tweeted: “Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the chair of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke today about our negotiations with the EU.
“My conversations with Michel Barnier will continue in London on Monday.”
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