14/04/2021 (Agence Europe) – European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and UK Minister David Frost will meet in Brussels on Thursday 15 April to discuss the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol and the ongoing technical work to resolve the difficulties identified, Commission spokesperson Daniel Ferrie announced on Twitter. In the meantime, the UK has asked the Commission for more time to respond to the first stage of the infringement proceeding launched in March on this issue (see EUROPE 12678/1). The European Parliament, for its part, decided at its Conference of Group Presidents on Tuesday 13 April not to set an official date for ratification of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement yet, but its Committees on International Trade and Foreign Affairs will vote on the agreement on 15 April. (SP)