THE UK and EU are set to continue “intensive discussions” to resolve the deadlock over post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and her EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic met in Brussels on Monday in a bid to make progress on issues surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol.
In a joint statement, the pair said there was a “constructive atmosphere” and they will meet again next week.
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Officials will carry on talks this week before Truss and European Commission vice-president Sefcovic meet to take stock of the situation.
Truss said the “teams continue intensive discussions” during their second meeting.
The joint statement said Monday’s meeting “took place in a constructive atmosphere with the aim to advance the talks”.
As well as the ongoing discussions, the EU-UK Joint Committee will meet in February. This will be the first time the panel, set up to oversee the implementation and application of the Brexit divorce deal, will have met since June.
The joint statement said Truss and Sefcovic “reaffirmed their shared desire for a positive EU-UK relationship underpinned by our shared belief in freedom and democracy, and co-operation on common global challenges”.
The Government is seeking substantial changes to the protocol – which forms part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement – arguing that it is hampering the free movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and damaging community relations.
One of the UK's demands is replacing the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in policing the protocol with a system of international arbitration.
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The EU has refused to budge on this issue, as have the UK, and Ireland’s Tanaiste Leo Varadkar previously said that the request was “very hard to accept”.
Other issues under discussion relate to problems with goods and trade. A grace period for border checks and regulatory approvals for drugs expired at the end of 2021.
The UK unilaterally extended the grace period, but there is a risk of trade disturbance for medicines if both sides don’t reach a deal.
In a statement ahead of the talks, Truss said: “Fundamentally this is about peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
“Whether you voted Leave or Remain, represent the UK or EU, the focus must be on protecting the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and fixing the protocol.
“Rather than re-running past arguments, we need to focus on delivering for the people of Northern Ireland, finding practical solutions to problems on the ground and maintaining the integrity of the United Kingdom.”
The Government is seeking substantial changes to the protocol – which forms part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement – arguing that it is hampering the free movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and damaging community relations.
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One of the UK's demands is replacing the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in policing the protocol with a system of international arbitration.
The EU has refused to budge on this issue, as have the UK, and Ireland’s Tanaiste Leo Varadkar previously said that the request was “very hard to accept”.
Other issues under discussion relate to problems with goods and trade.
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