UK and EU vow to ‘spare no effort’ to fix NI Brexit issues

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UK and EU leaders have reiterated their “full commitment” to the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol following talks in London.

A joint statement said British Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic had a “frank but constructive discussion” tonight, in which they agreed to “spare no effort” at the implementation of solutions.

The two agreed to convene a joint commission no later than February 24 to provide “the necessary political direction” and approval of this work “in a spirit of collaboration, responsibility and pragmatism.”

They said they intended to protect the Good Friday Agreement and “impact as little as possible the daily lives of communities in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

The protocol requires regulatory and customs controls on goods moving from Britain to Northern Ireland, but it has disrupted trade since it took effect on January 1, with several grace periods in place.

Unionists are deeply concerned about the deals, insisting they have driven an economic wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

They have asked the UK to activate a mechanism within the protocol, Article 16, which allows the government to unilaterally suspend aspects that it considers to be causing economic, social or environmental problems.

Entering the talks, Sefcovic emphasized that the implementation of the protocol is “a two-way street” and the UK had to fulfill the commitments it made in December.

Entering the talks, Sefcovic emphasized that the implementation of the protocol is “a two-way street” and the UK had to fulfill the commitments it made in December.

“These must be implemented urgently,” he said, after sending a letter to Mr Gove complaining that London was not fulfilling its end of the agreement on matters such as customs controls on goods entering Northern Ireland.

“We are ready to analyze these initial challenges while respecting the objectives of the protocol. We see the protocol as a solution, not as a problem,” added Mr. Sefcovic.

Gove had urged Sefcovic to establish “swift action” to fix the problems, covering everything from chilled meat rules to pet travel regulations, along with a lawsuit to extend a three-month grace period for supermarkets until 2023.

He told MPs before the meeting that the UK was trying to secure “light” border processes for trade with Northern Ireland.

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Fears of sectarian tensions in Northern Ireland were stoked after the European Commission said it would restrict exports of Covid-19 vaccines as the bloc struggles with its own supply.

Although the EU quickly backtracked, the move has intensified opposition to the new regulations and threats against officials forced a temporary suspension of customs controls at the ports of Belfast and Larne earlier this month.

The joint statement covered the irritating exchanges that preceded today’s meeting, but agreed that the commitments made by both sides in December “form the basis of our cooperation.”

Mr Gove and Mr Sefcovic pledged to convene their joint UK-EU committee on Northern Ireland “no later than 24 February to provide the necessary political direction and approval of this work in a spirit of collaboration. , responsibility and pragmatism “.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney described the meeting as a “good day at work.”

In a tweet, he said that the focus is on cooperation between the EU and the UK to implement what was agreed in the protocol and work on solutions to outstanding problems related to its implementation.

AFP of additional reports



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