Thursday, March 28

Brexit: There is ‘a deal to be made’ on Northern Ireland, says Liz Truss | North Ireland


Liz Truss, the foreign minister, said there was “a deal to be made” on post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland after “constructive talks” with her EU counterpart raised hopes for less rancorous relations with Brussels. .

The remarkably sunny forecast followed a first meeting with Maroš Šefčovič, the European commissioner responsible for Brexit-related affairs, in Chevening, the official residence of the cabinet minister in Kent.

In a joint EU-UK statement, a rarity in recent years, Truss and Šefčovič said intense talks would begin next week to address outstanding issues related to Northern Ireland’s place within the EU and the UK’s internal market. United.

“We have had constructive talks with the EU,” Truss said in a subsequent interview with the BBC. “We are now going to start intensive negotiations to work towards a negotiated solution to solve these very real problems for the people of Northern Ireland.”

The foreign secretary downplayed earlier threats to activate article 16 of the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol, according to which the UK would suspend parts of the previously agreed deal with the EU.

She said: “What I want is a negotiated solution. I think there is a deal to be done. We have had constructive conversations during the last day.

“Of course there is more work to be done, and that is why we are intensifying the discussions. I will see the vice president again in a week and I want to make progress. Clearly if we don’t make enough progress we will have to look for alternatives, but my absolute wish is to come up with an agreement that works for the people of Northern Ireland. “

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Attempting to build strong personal relationships with Šefčovič in Chevening, where the two politicians walked the estate and dined for Scottish smoked salmon, Welsh lamb and apple pie, offered a clear signal that the government is trying to restore relations after the resignation of Lord Frost, who often clashed with his opponents in Brussels.

Important differences remain between the parties on the future implementation of the protocol, which keeps Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods and draws a customs border in the Irish Sea.

The EU has offered to halve the number of customs checks and reduce health and safety checks on meat, plants and dairy products by 80%.

The UK insists the proposed plans have yet to deliver on that promise and is pushing for a more radical overhaul to ensure there are no controls on Britain’s products destined to remain in Northern Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, who heads Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive, demanded a timetable for enforcing the demands of the UK protocol.

Northern Ireland goes to the polls in May and there is an expectation that the two sides will seek to reach an agreement before that election.

Ireland’s Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney welcomed the improved ambient music surrounding the talks. He said: “I think it’s good that Brexit issues and protocol issues are back in London’s Foreign Office rather than in a separate unit led by Lord Frost.”


www.theguardian.com

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