Lord Forst held talks with the EU’s vice-President of the Commission on Wednesday to present a solution to end the row over checks to goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. During talks with the EU official, Lord Forst presented a workable plan as to how the Northern Ireland protocol will be implemented by the UK. Due to this, it is thought tensions between the EU and UK may now be eased going forward.
As reported by the BBC, these talks came after the UK extended the grace period for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Due to this, goods such as agrifoods and parcels will not need customs checks when moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
However, after doing this unilaterally, the EU argued that the Northern Ireland protocol had been violated.
The protocol was created in order to maintain trade between the UK and Northern Ireland but has so far seen businesses on the island of Ireland suffer due to the additional customs checks.
Prior to talks, Michel Barnier had warned the protocol must be fully implemented in order to uphold the Good Friday Agreement.
Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney also claimed the protocol must be maintained despite claims from the DUP to scrap the procedure.
He said: “We would be taken out of the single market by default.
“The protocol is not just about Northern Ireland; it is about the island as a whole functioning as it needs to function in order to protect relationships and trade.”
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7.50am update: EU Commission receives roadmap from the UK
After holding talks, Express.co.uk understands the EU has received a document laying out the UK’s plan to implement the protocol.
7.29am update: David Frost holds talks with the EU
Cabinet minister Lord Frost held talks with the EU Commission’s vice-President, Maros Sefcovic, in order to ease tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol.
According to the BBC, Lord Frost spoke to the EU official following the UK’s move to extend the grace period for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
UK officials claimed this had been done to aid businesses in Northern Ireland but this sparked conflict with the EU, who claimed it had violated an international agreement.
Ahead of talks, Michel Barnier insisted the protocol must be implemented completely in order to maintain the peace process in Ireland.
