The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, had a “positive discussion” on Saturday 18 February at the Munich Security Conference regarding the talks on the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol.
They said that “very good progress had been made in finding solutions”, according to a statement. “Intensive work in the coming days is still needed at official and ministerial level”, they also commented, while British media had raised the possibility on 17 February that the two leaders would announce an agreement as early as 18 February.
The leaders agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days, the statement concluded.
By 17 February, Member State ambassadors had been informed of progress in discussions with London, but had not been given details of the content of these talks. The aim of the meeting was to ask them to be ready in case an agreement was announced. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)