The Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, and the UK Minister for European Affairs, David Frost, met again, on Friday 19 November in Brussels, to make progress in the negotiations on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. But they failed to agree on the rules on generic medicines that the Commission had proposed to change on 13 October (see EUROPE 12811/14).
While the Commission had hoped for an agreement on the issue this week, Mr Šefčovič “reaffirmed the need to move to a results-oriented mode and tangible solutions”, according to a statement (see EUROPE 12831/2).
However, the Vice-President noted that “progress has been made”, although “pressure” must be maintained. “This is a real test of political goodwill”, he added.
On the proposed easing of customs controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, “a useful first commitment has been made at the technical level”, said Mr Šefčovič, although efforts are still needed on sanitary and phytosanitary controls, one of the components of the package presented in mid-October.
The British negotiator, for his part, said there was potential to “generate some momentum in our discussions”. He welcomed the EU Commissioner’s “recognition that the Protocol has had unintended consequences in Northern Ireland”, referring to an earlier speech in Dublin.
“Any acceptable solution needs to ensure that medicines are available at the same time and on the same basis across the whole of the UK”, Mr Frost stressed. However, he said, “we have not yet made substantial progress on the fundamental issues of customs and sanitary and phytosanitary controls”.
While the UK minister reiterated his desire for a consensual solution, he also said that the government remained ready “to use the safeguard provisions of Article 16”.
The two men will meet again on 26 November in London. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)