Brexit chief says Northern Ireland protocol cannot become ‘eternal’ issue

The European Union aims to have all outstanding issues related to Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangements resolved by the end of the year, its lead official on the issue has said.

European commission vice-president Maris Sefcovic said there was “unity” around the table as the EU’s 27 European affairs ministers discussed the issue in Brussels today.

“What we need to focus on is the practical problems that people and businesses are facing,” said Mr Sefcovic, who briefed the ministers on his visit to the North to meet with stakeholders this month. “That should be our primary objective.”

He added that “this process cannot be eternal”, and that the EU aimed to “resolve outstanding issues by the end of the year”.

Mr Sefcovic is expected to outline a package of proposals in the coming days to ease the impact of the Northern Ireland protocol on the ground. These are expected to include adjustments to European legislation on medicines to help supplies flow from Britain, tweaks to agrifood checks, and customs.

There are concerns among some member states, however, that the British government could be prepared to use the sensitive Article 16 clause to unilaterally suspend parts of the agreement if it considers this to be in its political interests.

The UK Brexit chief David Frost warned last week that London was prepared to take the step unless there was a “real negotiation between us and the EU”.

Source:TheIrishTimes