Today, Brussels’ former chief Brexit negotiator stated that a solution may be reached to the acrimonious issue between Britain and the EU over Northern Ireland.
Michel Barnier stated, “there is a way” to resolve the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which governs post-Brexit trade rules.
Ahead of the third anniversary of Britain’s formal exit from the EU, Mr. Barnier emphasized a ‘shared willingness’ to move on from the dispute.
London, Belfast, Dublin, and Brussels are filled with optimism that a solution is close at hand.
It follows a flurry of action over the Protocol in recent weeks, with the UK and EU continuing to “scope” a new agreement.
Former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier stated, “there is a way” to resolve the Northern Ireland Protocol dispute over post-Brexit trade rules.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove assured Mr. Barnier that the United Kingdom “absolutely” abides by its international obligations.
Mr. Barnier joined the rising number of UK and EU lawmakers who have voiced hope about the Protocol dispute being resolved this morning.
I hope so,’ he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme when asked if he expected an agreement will be reached soon. I believe there is a solution because, for the first time in three years, I observe a shared desire on both sides.’
However, Mr. Barnier, who negotiated the Protocol on behalf of the EU as part of the UK’s divorce agreement, refused to accept Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s recent allegation that mistakes were made on both sides during the Brexit negotiations.
I believe that we left a number of topics up for discussion. He continued, “I don’t believe it could be a mistake.”
Mr. Barnier also used his appearance on the BBC broadcast, which coincided with the release of his Brexit negotiations diary, to question Cabinet minister Michael Gove on why the UK Government had “not yet” implemented all Brexit agreements.
Mr. Gove claimed that the United Kingdom ‘certainly’ abides by its international obligations, adding: ‘One of the things about the Protocol – and it was in the original deal that we signed – was that a special committee was established to examine how the Protocol operated.
“Because both parties acknowledged, in its implementation, we may need to make adjustments,”
‘To be fair, the current European Commission and Irish government have stated, ‘Look, the Protocol as drafted was executed too strictly.’
Therefore, Leo Varadkar has acknowledged the need for change.
»Michel Barnier says Britain and EU can resolve Northern Ireland dispute«