Discussions are “continuing” with the United Kingdom on a common framework for resolving difficulties in implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol and the two sides have not yet come to an agreement, the European Commission said on Wednesday 1 February, after the British press reported that an agreement had been reached on the matter.
Questioned during the presentation of the ‘Green Deal’ industrial plan, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not wish to give details on these discussions, but insisted on the relationship of “trust” she has with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. On the negotiations themselves, the President cannot “say anything” until they have been concluded.
According to The Times, an agreement has been reached, notably on the role of the EU Court of Justice in the arbitration of the protocol or on the level of controls of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with important concessions from the Commission.
However, these articles are not correct, the Commission said. The subject of EU-UK relations will be on the agenda of the ‘General Affairs Council’ on 6 February. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)