Germany says there’ll be no more negotiations over Northern Ireland Protocol, as UK demands relaxation of EU customs arrangement
A spokesperson for the German government has said Berlin rejects any further negotiation concerning the Northern Ireland Protocol, but it supports European Commission attempts to find a solution.
Speaking on Friday, a German government spokesperson reiterated the country’s support for the European Commission and its attempt to find a solution to the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
“The goal is to work with Great Britain to find solutions to implement the protocol, and the European Commission has the German government’s full support in this regard,” the spokesperson stated.
“However, we refuse to renegotiate the protocol,” they added, dismissing UK Brexit Minister David Frost’s demands for two to three weeks of “intense” talks.
The protocol has essentially drawn a customs border down the middle of the Irish Sea, keeping Northern Ireland within the EU single market. The arrangement, according to many in London and Belfast, isn’t working, and some say it threatens the hard-won peace on the island.
“There needs to be significant change if we are to get an agreed solution,” Frost told Politico on Thursday ahead of a meeting with Maros Sefcovic, who presides over EU-UK relations after Brexit.
An EU proposal unveiled on Wednesday would see the flow of medicines between the UK and Northern Ireland go undisturbed, and all paperwork would be cut in half. Inspections on meat, dairy, and other food produce coming from the British mainland would drop by 80%.
In a pre-emptive message on Tuesday, Frost said he thought the EU’s proposal would likely fall short and that between two and three weeks of negotiations would be needed. In addition to customs relaxations, Britain also wants the removal of European Court of Justice's oversight (ECJ) in Northern Ireland. The court decides whether institutions of the EU are acting legally, including on matters relating to trade and adherence with the bloc's single market.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has also threatened to leave Northern Ireland’s power-sharing arrangement unless the protocol is amended.
“The goal is to work with Great Britain to find solutions to implement the protocol, and the European Commission has the German government’s full support in this regard,” the spokesperson stated.
“However, we refuse to renegotiate the protocol,” they added, dismissing UK Brexit Minister David Frost’s demands for two to three weeks of “intense” talks.
The protocol has essentially drawn a customs border down the middle of the Irish Sea, keeping Northern Ireland within the EU single market. The arrangement, according to many in London and Belfast, isn’t working, and some say it threatens the hard-won peace on the island.
“There needs to be significant change if we are to get an agreed solution,” Frost told Politico on Thursday ahead of a meeting with Maros Sefcovic, who presides over EU-UK relations after Brexit.
An EU proposal unveiled on Wednesday would see the flow of medicines between the UK and Northern Ireland go undisturbed, and all paperwork would be cut in half. Inspections on meat, dairy, and other food produce coming from the British mainland would drop by 80%.
In a pre-emptive message on Tuesday, Frost said he thought the EU’s proposal would likely fall short and that between two and three weeks of negotiations would be needed. In addition to customs relaxations, Britain also wants the removal of European Court of Justice's oversight (ECJ) in Northern Ireland. The court decides whether institutions of the EU are acting legally, including on matters relating to trade and adherence with the bloc's single market.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has also threatened to leave Northern Ireland’s power-sharing arrangement unless the protocol is amended.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
